The union territories have been created for a variety of reasons. These are mentioned below:

• Political and administrative consideration - Delhi and Chandigarh. Hence, pair 3 is incorrectly matched.
• Cultural distinctiveness - Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched.
• Strategic importance: Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
• Special treatment and care of the backward and tribal people—Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh which later became states. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Lacxmikanth

The Constitution of India ensures the security of the tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. They are appointed for a six year term or continue till the age of 65, whichever is earlier.

The CEC can be removed before the expiry of the term, by the President if both Houses of Parliament make such a recommendation with a special majority. This is done to ensure that a ruling party cannot remove a CEC who refuses to favour it in elections. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 42

Article 324 of the Constitution empowers the Election Commission of India with the power of superintendence, direction and control of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, the office of President of India and the office of Vice-President of India.

The election commission is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and municipalities in the states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Commission. Hence, the correct answer is (C).

Both the statements are incorrect.

Since its inception in 1950 and till 15 October 1989, the election commission functioned as a single member body consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner. On 16 October 1989, the president appointed two more election commissioners to cope with the increased work of the election commission on account of lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18 years.

Thereafter, the Election Commission functioned as a multimember body consisting of three election commissioners. However, the two posts of election commissioners were abolished in January 1990 and the Election Commission was reverted to the earlier position.

The conditions of service and tenure of office of the election commissioners and the regional commissioners shall be determined by the President.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 41

Statement 1 is incorrect. Every union territory is administered by the President acting through an administrator appointed by him. An administrator of a union territory is an agent of the President and not head of state like a governor. The President can specify the designation of an administrator; it may be Lieutenant Governor or Chief Commissioner or Administrator. At present, it is Lieutenant Governor in the case of Delhi, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Administrator in the case of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep.

Statement 2 is correct. The Parliament can make laws on any subject of the three lists (including the State List) for the union territories. This power of Parliament also extends to Puducherry and Delhi, which have their own local legislatures. This means that, the legislative power of Parliament for the union territories on subjects of the State List remain unaffected even after establishing a local legislature for them.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 40

Statement 1 is incorrect. The scheduled areas are treated differently from the other areas in the country. The whole of the normal administrative machinery operating in a state is not extended to the scheduled areas and the Central government has somewhat greater responsibility for these areas. The president is empowered to declare an area to be a scheduled area. He can also increase or decrease its area, alter its boundary lines, rescind such designation or make fresh orders for such redesignation on an area in consultation with the governor of the state concerned.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Each state having scheduled areas has to establish a tribes advisory council to advise on welfare and advancement of the scheduled tribes. It is to consist of 20 members, three-fourths of whom are to be the representatives of the scheduled tribes in the state legislative assembly. A similar council can also be established in a state having scheduled tribes but not scheduled areas therein, if the president so directs.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 41

Statement 1 is incorrect. The chief election commissioner is provided with the security of tenure. He cannot be removed from his office except in the same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court. Any other election commissioner or a regional commissioner cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the chief election commissioner.

Statement 2 is correct. The chief election commissioner and the two other election commissioners hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They can resign at any time or can also be removed before the expiry of their term.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The Constitution has not debarred the retiring election commissioners from any further appointment by the government.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 41

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Union Public Service Commission is the central recruiting agency in India. It is not a training agency.

Statement 2 is correct. The Union Public Service Commission is an independent constitutional body in the sense that it has been directly created by the Constitution. Articles 315 to 323 in Part XIV of the Constitution contain elaborate provisions regarding the composition, appointment and removal of members along with the independence, powers and functions of the UPSC.

Source) Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth; Chapter 42