Which of the following is/are true relating to the Lokpal Bill, 2013, which was assented to by the President on 1st January, 2014? 1. It provides for creation of anti-graft ombudsman to investigate Corruption charges against public functionaries including the Prime Minister, Ministers and Members of the Parliament. 2. The Bill makes it incumbent upon States to make within a year their own law for setting up Lokayuktas on the lines of the Lokpal Bill. 3. States are free not to set up Lokayuktas, if they do not so desire. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, which received Presidential assent on January 1, 2014, provides for an anti-graft ombudsman to investigate corruption charges against public functionaries, including the Prime Minister, Ministers, and Members of Parliament [2]. While the Prime Minister is included, specific safeguards like a two-thirds majority of the Lokpal members are required for such investigations. Regarding the states, Section 63 of the Act mandates that every state shall establish the institution of the Lokayukta [2]. The Act originally made it incumbent upon states to set up these bodies within one year of the Act's commencement [1]. Although the federal structure allows states some autonomy in the specific design of their Lokayukta, the mandate to establish them remains a statutory requirement under the Act, making statement 3 incorrect as states are not free to simply refuse establishment [2].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > 2009 Election and UPA Back in Power > p. 774
2. [2] https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2122/1/201401.pdf