Which of the following statements is true about Panchayat election qualification?

The correct answer is: C. Both (A) and (B)

The qualifications for contesting Panchayat elections are as follows:

• The candidate must be a citizen of India.
• The candidate must be a resident of the Panchayat area for a period of not less than 2 years immediately preceding the date of election.
• The candidate must not be less than 21 years of age on the date of election.
• The candidate must not be an undischarged insolvent.
• The candidate must not be a person who has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for more than 2 years.
• The candidate must not be a person who has been dismissed from service by the government or a local authority on the grounds of misconduct.
• The candidate must not be a person who is mentally or physically unfit to discharge the duties of a member of the Panchayat.

The qualifications for contesting Legislative Assembly elections are as follows:

• The candidate must be a citizen of India.
• The candidate must be a resident of the constituency for a period of not less than 3 years immediately preceding the date of election.
• The candidate must not be less than 25 years of age on the date of election.
• The candidate must not be an undischarged insolvent.
• The candidate must not be a person who has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for more than 2 years.
• The candidate must not be a person who has been dismissed from service by the government or a local authority on the grounds of misconduct.
• The candidate must not be a person who is mentally or physically unfit to discharge the duties of a member of the Legislative Assembly.

As you can see, the qualifications for contesting Panchayat elections are less stringent than the qualifications for contesting Legislative Assembly elections. This is because Panchayats are local bodies and their members are expected to be more involved in the day-to-day affairs of their communities.