The correct option is 1 only
Explanation
The concept of Human Development is supported by four pillars: Equity, Sustainability, Productivity, and Empowerment. Equity refers to making equal access to opportunities available to everybody.
Statement 1 is Correct: Equity is defined as the availability of equal access to opportunities for all people. It ensures that the opportunities available to individuals are equal irrespective of their gender, race, income, and caste.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Equity is a universal principle and is not restricted to the economically weaker sections. It ensures that opportunities are equal for everybody, regardless of their socio-economic status, ensuring no one is excluded.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: In India, a large number of school dropouts, particularly from socially and economically backward groups, demonstrates that choices are limited by a lack of access to knowledge. If access were not limited, dropout rates would not be driven by the inability to access resources.
Key Takeaway: Equity in human development signifies equal access to opportunities for all people, ensuring that choices are not curtailed by discrimination, poverty, or lack of resources.