With reference to Scheduled Areas in India, consider the following statements: 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place through an Order of the President. 2. The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is the District and the lowest is the cluster of villages in the Block. 3. The Chief Ministers of the concerned States are required to submit annual reports to the Union Home Ministry on the administration of Scheduled Areas in the States. How many of the above statements are correct?
Correct Answer: Option B
Statement 1 is correct: According to Part C of the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, the President has the power to declare an area as a Scheduled Area through an order.
Statement 2 is correct: The District is the largest administrative unit within a Scheduled Area, while the cluster of villages in the Block represents the lowest.
Statement 3 is not correct: The Governor of the state, not the Chief Minister, is responsible for submitting an annual report (or whenever required) to the President regarding the administration of Scheduled Areas.
Hence, only two statements are correct.