Q. Consider the following statements about the Politburo:

1. The Politburo originated in the Soviet Union after the 1917 Revolution as a compact policy-making body.
2. In the CPI(M), the Politburo is elected directly by the party congress.
3. The Politburo is always the highest authority in all communist parties globally.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Answer: 1 only
Notes: The Politburo was indeed formed in the Soviet Union after the 1917 Revolution as an elite policy-making group, including Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky, making the first statement correct. However, in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), the Politburo is elected by the Central Committee, not the Congress. Also, while the Politburo holds significant authority in most communist parties, in certain countries like China, it is superseded by smaller bodies like the Standing Committee, making statements 2 and 3 incorrect.