Correct answer: (c) 2 and 4
Explanation
- A
1, 2 and 3
1, 2 and 3 wrongly includes the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which was not the lockdown power base, and omits the Epidemic Diseases Act.
- B
2, 3 and 4
2, 3 and 4 wrongly includes the Enemy Property Act, 1968, a confiscation statute unrelated to COVID lockdowns.
- C
2 and 4
2 and 4 is the official key: the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (national/state disaster machinery, MHA guidelines) and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (State epidemic regulations) legally framed the 2020 lockdown.
- D
1, 3 and 4
1, 3 and 4 drops the Disaster Management Act, the Union’s principal 2020 instrument, and keeps two irrelevant Acts.
Summary. Official key is (c) 2 and 4. Lockdown orders rode on NDMA/DM Act directions and colonial epidemic legislation. Mental healthcare and enemy-property laws were not the extra-ordinary COVID code. Honour the stored letter (c).