Consider the following statements : 1. A bill amending the Constitution requires a prior recommendation of the President of India. 2. When a Constitution Amendment Bill is presented to the President of India, it is obligatory for the President of India to give his/her assent. 3. A Constitution Amendment Bill must be passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha by a special majority and there is no provision for joint sitting. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Statements 2 and 3 are correct because the 24th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1971 made it mandatory for the President to give assent to a Constitution Amendment Bill, and Article 368 requires such bills to be passed by each House separately by a special majority with no provision for a joint sitting. Statement 1 is incorrect because, unlike a Money Bill, a Constitution Amendment Bill can be introduced in either House of Parliament without the prior recommendation of the President. The core concept tested is the specific legislative procedure for amending the Constitution as prescribed under Article 368.