Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) was established by a Government of India resolution in February 2000. Its objective was to examine the working of the Constitution in the last 50 years and suggest changes to respond to modern needs, strictly within the framework of parliamentary democracy.
Statement 1 is Correct: The Commission was chaired by Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah, a former Chief Justice of India. It submitted its report in 2002.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Commission did not recommend the abolition of the Basic Structure doctrine. Its terms of reference explicitly mandated that the review must be conducted "without interfering with the basic structure or features of the Constitution." The Commission adhered to this principle and clarified that the basic structure is inviolable.
Statement 3 is Correct: The constitution of the Commission was politically controversial. It was boycotted by major opposition parties, including the Congress and Left parties, who apprehended that the move was an attempt to alter the secular and democratic ethos of the Constitution.
Key Takeaway: The NCRWC (Venkatachaliah Commission) was an advisory body tasked with reviewing the Constitution's efficacy without altering its Basic Structure. Its recommendations were not binding.