Consider the following statements about the recent amendments to the Election Law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996: I. Any conviction for the offence of insulting the Indian National flag or the Constitution of India shall entail disqualification for contesting elections to Parliament and State Legislatures for six years from the date of conviction. II. There is an increase in the security deposit which a candidate has to make to contest the election to the Lok Sabha. III. A candidate cannot now stand for election from more than one Parliamentary constituency. IV. No election will now be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate. Which of the above statements are correct?

The correct answer is B because of the following reasons based on the 1996 amendments to the Representation of the People Act:

Statement I is correct because the amendment included certain offences under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 as grounds for disqualification. This includes insulting the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India, which leads to disqualification from contesting elections for six years.

Statement II is correct because the security deposit was significantly increased to discourage non serious candidates. For Lok Sabha elections, it was raised from 500 rupees to 10,000 rupees for general candidates and from 250 rupees to 5,000 rupees for SC and ST candidates.

Statement III is incorrect because the amendment restricted a candidate to contesting from a maximum of two constituencies, not just one. Prior to this, there was no limit on the number of constituencies a candidate could contest from.

Statement IV is correct because the amendment changed the rule regarding the death of a candidate. Previously, the election was countermanded if any candidate died. Post amendment, the election is not countermanded unless the deceased candidate belonged to a recognized political party, in which case the party is given time to nominate a new candidate.