✅ Answer: (c) 2 and 3

📝 Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 is not correct:

• Under Article 85(2) of the Constitution, the President has the power to prorogue the Houses of Parliament, but this requires the advice of the Council of Ministers.
• The President acts as per the aid and advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers as per Article 74.

✅ Statement 2 is correct:

• Prorogation means terminating a session of Parliament.
• Usually, prorogation follows adjournment sine die (i.e., when a House is adjourned without fixing a date for its next meeting).
• However, the President can also prorogue the House while it is in session.

✅ Statement 3 is correct:

• Dissolution applies only to the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha, since the latter is a permanent body that never dissolves.
• The President dissolves the Lok Sabha based on the advice of the Council of Ministers, except in exceptional circumstances where the President may explore alternative government formation if the sitting government loses its majority.

📚 Additional Information:

🔹 Prorogation vs. Adjournment vs. Dissolution:

🔹 Elimination Strategy:

• Statement 1 is incorrect (Prorogation requires the advice of CoM) → Option (b) is eliminated.
• Statement 2 is correct → Option (a) is eliminated.
• Statement 3 is correct → Correct answer is (c) 2 and 3.

📖 Source:

• M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity, Chapter on Parliament