Correct option is A
Statement 1 is correct: Article 243D(3) of the Indian Constitution provides for the reservation of not less than one-third of the total number of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions, including the offices of the chairpersons. This reservation is crucial for ensuring women's participation in grassroots democracy and governance.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Article 334 refers to the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, which was originally set to expire after a certain period. However, this does not apply to Panchayati Raj Institutions or the reservation for women. The reservation for women in Panchayats is not limited by any expiration date linked to Article 334.
The reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions was introduced through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992). This is a critical measure aimed at empowering women at the local governance level and promoting gender equality.
