Consider the following statements about the recent amendments to the Election Law by the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996: 1. 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. 2. II. There is an increase in the security deposit which a candidate has to make to contest the election to the Lok Sabha. 3. III. A candidate cannot now stand for election from more than one Parliamentary constituency. 4. IV. No election will now be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate. Which of the above statements are correct?

1. The question asks about correct statements regarding the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 1996. 2. Statement I: This amendment introduced Section 8(1) in the RPA, 1951, specifying disqualification for conviction under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (which covers insulting the Indian National flag or the Constitution of India). The disqualification is for six years from the date of conviction. This statement is correct. 3. Statement II: The 1996 amendment significantly increased the security deposit amount for candidates contesting Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections to curb non-serious candidates. This statement is correct. 4. Statement III: The restriction preventing a candidate from standing for election from more than one Parliamentary constituency was NOT introduced by the 1996 Act. The limit was reduced from an unlimited number to two constituencies by an amendment to Section 33(7) of the RPA, 1951, which came into effect later (associated with electoral reforms around 2003-2004). So, this statement is incorrect regarding the 1996 Act. 5. Statement IV: The 1996 amendment inserted Section 52 in the RPA, 1951, stating that an election would not be countermanded on the death of a contesting candidate if polling has commenced. If a candidate of a recognized political party dies before the poll, the party gets time to nominate another candidate. This changed the earlier provision where death automatically led to countermanding. This statement is correct. 6. Therefore, statements I, II, and IV are correct.