In the Indian system of local self government, which of the following statements regarding Panchayats are correct? 1. Seats in a Panchayat are filled by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Panchayat area. 2. The Gram Sabha is the body of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village within the Panchayat area. 3. The Panchayats work on the principle of complete constitutional autonomy. 4. The State Legislature may by law endow the Panchayats with the power and authority needed to enable them to function effectively. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your conceptual understanding of the constitutional status of Panchayats under Part IX of the Constitution of India. After the Seventy Third Constitutional Amendment, Panchayats became an important tier of democratic decentralisation in rural areas. To answer correctly, you must know how members are elected, what the Gram Sabha means, the role of State Legislatures, and whether Panchayats enjoy full constitutional autonomy or remain subject to State control.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Seats in a Panchayat are said to be filled by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Panchayat area.
The Gram Sabha is described as the body of persons registered in the electoral rolls for a village within the Panchayat area.
It is claimed that Panchayats work on the principle of constitutional autonomy.
The State Legislature may by law endow Panchayats with powers and authority to enable them to function as units of self government.
We have to identify which statements are correct in the light of the Constitution, especially Articles 243 to 243O.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to match each statement with the exact constitutional provision. Article 243C states that seats in a Panchayat are to be filled by direct election from territorial constituencies. Article 243B and Article 243(b) define the Gram Sabha as the body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls of a village comprised within the area of a Panchayat. Article 243G makes it clear that State Legislatures may by law endow Panchayats with powers and authority. The idea of Panchayats working on the principle of complete constitutional autonomy is not accurate because their powers and functions are largely shaped by State laws rather than being fully self executing and independent.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Check Statement 1. Article 243C provides that all the seats in a Panchayat shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the Panchayat area. Therefore Statement 1 is correct.Step 2: Check Statement 2. Article 243(b) defines Gram Sabha as the body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of a Panchayat. So Statement 2 is also correct.Step 3: Check Statement 3. Panchayats are constitutional bodies, but their powers are not fully autonomous. They depend on State legislation for devolution of functions, finances, and authority. Therefore the claim that they work on the principle of complete constitutional autonomy is misleading and incorrect.Step 4: Check Statement 4. Article 243G clearly states that the Legislature of a State may by law endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self government. Thus Statement 4 is correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification is to recall that the Seventy Third Amendment created a framework, but left it to State Legislatures to decide the exact list of functions and funds for Panchayats. This confirms that Panchayats are not absolutely autonomous and depend on State laws. Textbook discussions on local self government also emphasise that seats are filled by direct elections and that the Gram Sabha is simply the village level assembly of all registered voters, not a separate elected body. These cross checks show that Statements 1, 2, and 4 align with the Constitution, while Statement 3 does not.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 1, 2 and 3 is wrong because it includes Statement 3, which incorrectly describes Panchayats as working on complete constitutional autonomy, ignoring the crucial role of State legislation.

Option 2, 3 and 4 is wrong for the same reason; it accepts Statement 3 even though Panchayats are not fully autonomous and are still dependent on States for powers, funds, and functions.
Option 1 and 4 only is incorrect because it leaves out Statement 2, even though the given definition of Gram Sabha closely matches Article 243(b) and is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that because Panchayats are mentioned in the Constitution, they must have complete constitutional autonomy, similar to the basic structure of the Constitution or to the federal distribution of powers. In reality, Part IX only lays down a broad framework. Another pitfall is to confuse the Gram Sabha with the elected Gram Panchayat. The Gram Sabha is simply the assembly of all voters in a village, whereas the Panchayat is the elected body. Keeping this distinction clear helps in answering many local government questions accurately.

Final Answer:
The correct combination is that Statements 1, 2, and 4 are right, so the answer is 1, 2 and 4.