UPSC 2023: Consider the following statements : 1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances. 2. The Constitution of India exempts the States from providing legal counsel to a person being held for preventive detention. 3. According to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002, confession of the accused before the police cannot be used as evidence. How many of the above statements are correct?

Official answer (a) shows only one statement is correct. 1) Article 355 places the duty on the ‘Union of India’, not on the ‘Central Government’—so UPSC treats Statement-1 as incorrect. ([indiankanoon.org](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/490234/?utm_source=openai)) 2) Article 22(3)(b) removes the Article 22(1) right to legal counsel for persons under preventive-detention, so Statement-2 is correct. ([indiankanoon.org](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/581566/?utm_source=openai)) 3) Section 32 of POTA (2002) makes a confession before a police officer (≥ SP rank) admissible; hence Statement-3 is wrong. ([sooperkanoon.com](https://sooperkanoon.com/act/14106/prevention-of-terrorism-act-2002-repealed-chapter-iv?utm_source=openai)) Therefore exactly one statement (Statement-2) is correct.