Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, inserted Article 243D into the Constitution of India. This article specifically governs the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and women in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Statement 1 is Correct: Article 243D(3) mandates that not less than one-third of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women. This quota includes the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Reservations for SCs and STs are not uniform regardless of population. Article 243D(1) stipulates that seats shall be reserved for SCs and STs in every Panchayat in proportion to their population in that Panchayat area relative to the total population of that area.
Statement 3 is Correct: Article 243D(4) explicitly states that the offices of the Chairpersons in the Panchayats at the village or any other level shall be reserved for the SCs, the STs, and women. The specific manner of this reservation is determined by the State Legislature by law.
Key Takeaway: While reservation for women is a fixed constitutional minimum (one-third), reservation for SCs and STs is strictly based on their demographic proportion in the specific Panchayat area. Both seat membership and Chairperson positions are subject to reservation.