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Type: Prelims Only

  • India secures Rights to operate Sittwe Port in Myanmar

    Why in the news?

    • After Chabahar, India has gained the rights to operate a second overseas port, Sittwe, in Myanmar.
    • This development is part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project, which aims to provide alternate connectivity from the eastern coast of India to the northeastern states through the Sittwe port.

    About India Ports Global (IPGL)

    • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has approved a proposal for India Ports Global (IPGL) to take over the operations of the entire port located on the Kaladan River.
    • IPGL is a company 100% owned by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
    • It is a joint venture between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Deendayal Port Trust (Erstwhile Kandla Port Trust).
    • It was created and incorporated in January 2015 under the Companies Act, 2013, as per directions of Ministry of Shipping (MoS), for development of ports overseas.
    • The MoS has presently assigned IPGL the task of equipping and operation of container/multi-purpose terminals at Chabahar Port in Iran.

     

    About Sittwe Port

    • The Sittwe Port, located in the Rakhine State of Myanmar, is a crucial component of the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project.
    • It has been developed under a framework agreement between India and Myanmar for the construction and operation of a multimodal transit transport facility on the Kaladan River.
    • It is a deep-water port serving as a maritime gateway, enhancing trade and connectivity between India and Myanmar.

    Significance of Sittwe Port

    • The Sittwe Port is part of the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project.
    • The project aims to connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea.
    • It further link Sittwe Port to Paletwa in Myanmar via Kaladan river waterway, and connect Paletwa to Zorinpui in Mizoram through a road component.
    • This link will not only offer an alternative route for shipping goods to the northeastern states, but will significantly reduce the cost and distance from Kolkata to Mizoram and beyond.
    • It will also reduce dependency on the Siliguri Corridor, known as the chicken’s neck, which is squeezed between Bhutan and Bangladesh.

    Also read about China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC)

    Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project

    • It connects the seaport of Kolkata in India to Sittwe seaport in Rakhine State, Myanmar, by sea.
    • In Myanmar, the project links Sittwe seaport to Paletwa in Chin State via the Kaladan river boat route and then from Paletwa by road to Mizoram state in Northeast India.
    • The project is being funded by the Indian government and is aimed at reducing the distance from Kolkata to Sittwe by approximately 1,328 km.
    • It was initially scheduled to be completed by 2014.
    • The project is affected by Chin conflict, Rohingya conflict, and militant groups such as Arakan Army and Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).
    • There are different sections of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which combines multi-modes of transport, including sea, river, and road routes.
    1. Sea Route: It includes- Kolkata-Sittwe shipping route, Sittwe seaport to Paletwa inland jetty river boat route, Sittwe Special Economic Zone at Ponnagyun town, Paletwa inland jetty to Zorinpui road route in Myanmar, and the Zorinpui to Aizawl road route in India.
    2. Road: This project will complement the river-road route of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar-Mizoram.
    3. Railway: It has the Sittwe-Kyaukhtu railway in Myanmar, Kyaukhtu-Zorinpui in Myanmar, and the Zochawchhuah (Zorinpui)-Sairang railway in India.

     

    PYQ:

    [2015] In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/ participants?

    1.    Bangladesh

    2.    Cambodia

    3.    China

    4.    Myanmar

    5.    Thailand

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2, 3 and 4

    (c) 1 and 3

    (d) 1, 2 and 5

  • VVPAT Verification in Elections

    Why in the news?

    The Supreme Court has decided to address petitions advocating for a comprehensive verification of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in upcoming general elections.

    What are VVPATs?

    • VVPAT machines, attached to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), print a slip showing the voter’s choice, allowing voters to verify their vote for 7 seconds before the slip drops into a secured box.
    • The concept emerged in 2010, leading to the creation of prototypes by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL).
    • After trials and feedback, the design was approved in February 2013.
    • The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, were amended to incorporate VVPATs.
    • They were first used in Nagaland’s Noksen Assembly constituency in 2013 and were implemented in all polling stations by the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

    Current VVPAT Slip Counting Protocol

    • In 2018, the ECI consulted the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) to determine a statistically robust sample size for VVPAT slip verification.
    • Initially, VVPAT slips of one randomly selected polling station per Assembly constituency were counted.
    • This was increased to five polling stations per Assembly seat after a Supreme Court judgment in 2019.
    • The ISI suggested counting VVPAT slips from 479 EVMs to ensure a high confidence level that the proportion of defective EVMs is less than 2%.

    Recent petitions regarding VVPAT

    • Opposition parties advocate for heightened VVPAT verification, ranging from 50% to 100%, to bolster electoral transparency and uphold the sanctity of democratic processes.
    • However, the Election Commission emphasizes the need to balance transparency with operational constraints, citing logistical challenges and potential delays in result declaration.

    About Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India

    Details
    Introduction EVMs introduced in Paravur Assembly Constituency, Kerala, 1982.
    Adoption
    • Election Commission increasingly used EVMs since 1998. All state elections and by-elections used EVMs by 2003.
    • Use of EVMs for Lok Sabha elections implemented in 2004.
    Development
    • Developed by the Technical Experts Committee (TEC) of Election Commission, with Bharat Electronics Ltd,
    • Bangalore, and Electronic Corporation of India Ltd, Hyderabad.
    Functionality
    • Consists of Control Unit and Balloting Unit connected by cable.
    • Voters press blue button on Ballot Unit to record vote.
    Key Features
    • Each EVM records up to 2,000 votes.
    • Operates without electricity, powered by battery from Bharat Electronics Ltd/Electronic Corporation of India.
    • Uses one-time programmable/masked chip for security.
    • Stand-alone machines without an operating system for enhanced security.

     

     

    PYQ:

    [2017] Right to vote and to be elected in India is a

    (a) Fundamental Right

    (b) Natural Right

    (c) Constitutional Right

    (d) Legal Right

  • Imposition of Anti-Dumping Duty on Sodium Cyanide

    Why in the news?

    The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recently recommended the imposition of an anti-dumping duty on sodium cyanide (NaCN) imported from China, the European Union, Japan, and Korea.

    Sodium Cyanide and Its Applications

    • Sodium cyanide is a deadly toxic, white, crystalline compound with the chemical formula NaCN.
    • It is a water-soluble solid, mainly used in gold mining, electroplating, and in the synthesis of organic chemicals.
    • It is hygroscopice. it quickly absorbs water from the air.
    • In gold mining, sodium cyanide is used to dissolve and separate gold from its ores.
    • It plays a pivotal role in various industrial processes, electroplating, metal heat treatment, and the production of insecticides, dyes, pigments, and pharmaceuticals.

    What is Anti-Dumping Duty?

    • An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff that a domestic government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below the price at which it is sold in the exporters’ domestic market.
    • This is imposed with the rationale that these products have the potential to undercut local businesses and the local economy.
    • The World Trade Organization (WTO) operates a set of international trade rules for the regulation of anti-dumping measures.
    • In general, the WTO agreement permits governments to act against dumping “if it causes or threatens material injury to an established industry in the territory of a contracting party.

    Anti-Dumping Mechanism in India:

    • The Anti-Dumping mechanism in India is administered by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Dutites (DGAD) under the Ministry of Finance.
    • The anti-dumping law in India is covered under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, and the Customs Tariff Rules, 1995.
    • The DGAD conducts anti-dumping investigations to determine if the domestic industry has been hurt by a surge in below-cost imports.

    How is Anti-Dumping Duty calculated?

    • The anti-dumping duty is calculated as the difference between the normal value and the export value of the product.
    • The normal value is the market value of the product in the domestic market, while the export value is the price at which the product is exported to India.
    • The anti-dumping duty is imposed to offset the price difference and prevent the domestic industry from being harmed by cheap imports.

     

    PYQ:

    [2015] In India, the steel production industry requires the import of-

    (a) Saltpetre

    (b) Rock phosphate

    (c) Coking coal

    (d) All of the above

  • In news: Gape Limitation

    This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in TH.

    What is Gape Limitation?

    • In ecology, the concept of ‘gape limitation’ sheds light on a simple yet crucial idea: predators can only eat prey that fit into their mouths.
    • It dictates the range of prey accessible to predators, influencing the dynamics of ecological communities.

    Imagine a predator fish species with a relatively small mouth or gape size. This fish species primarily feeds on small aquatic invertebrates like zooplankton and small crustaceans. Due to its limited gape size, it cannot consume larger prey items such as larger fish or large insects.Now, let’s introduce a different predator fish species with a larger mouth or gape size. This predator has a broader diet and can consume a wider range of prey items, including smaller fish and larger invertebrates.In this scenario, the predator with the larger gape size has a competitive advantage over the predator with the smaller gape size. It can exploit a greater variety of prey resources, potentially leading to differences in foraging success, growth rates, and overall fitness between the two predator species.This example demonstrates how gape limitation can influence the feeding ecology and interactions between predator and prey species in an ecosystem.

     

  • In news: Total Solar Eclipse

    Why in the news?

    A rare Total Solar Eclipse will be visible across North America on April 8.

    What are Eclipses?

    • Eclipses are astronomical events that occur when the sun, moon, and Earth align in specific ways.
    • There are two primary types of eclipses: solar and lunar.
    1. A solar eclipse happens when the moon comes between the sun and Earth during a new moon, blocking out the sun’s light.
    2. Conversely, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon during a full moon, casting a shadow on the moon.

    What is a Total Solar Eclipse?

    • During a total solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth, entirely covering the face of the sun along a small path of our planet’s surface.
    • This is called the “path of totality.”
    • The daytime sky turns dark, similar to dusk or dawn, and nocturnal animals have been known to wake up, confused into believing night has arrived.

    Stages of a Total Solar Eclipse

    A total solar eclipse unfolds in several distinct stages.

    1. It starts with a partial eclipse phase as the moon begins to pass between Earth and the sun, partially blocking it and leaving the sun looking like it has a crescent shape.
    2. In the subsequent Baily’s Beads phase, points of light from the sun shine around the moon’s edges because of the irregular lunar topography, producing small beads of light.
    3. In the diamond ring phase, a single bright spot appears along the lunar edge even as the sun’s atmosphere leaves a ring of light around the moon. This phenomenon precedes totality.
    4. After totality, the other phases repeat as the moon keeps moving along its path until the eclipse ends.

    Other types of solar eclipses:

    1. Partial Solar Eclipse
    • This happens when the sun, moon and Earth are not exactly lined up.
    • The sun appears to have a dark shadow on only a small part of its surface.
    1. Annular Solar Eclipse
    • An annular eclipse happens when the moon is farthest from Earth. Because the moon is farther away from Earth, it seems smaller. It does not block the entire view of the sun. The moon in front of the sun looks like a dark disk on top of a larger sun-coloured disk. This creates what looks like a ring around the moon.
    • During a solar eclipse, the moon casts two shadows on Earth. The first shadow is called the Umbra. This shadow gets smaller as it reaches Earth. It is the dark centre of the moon’s shadow.
    • The second shadow is called the Penumbra. The penumbra gets larger as it reaches Earth. People standing in the penumbra will see a partial eclipse. People standing in the umbra will see a total eclipse.

    Why don’t solar eclipses happen at every New Moon?

    • The reason is that the Moon’s orbit tilts 5° to Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
    • Astronomers call the two intersections of these paths nodes.
    • Eclipses only occur when the Sun lies at one node and the Moon is at its New (for solar eclipses) or Full (for lunar eclipses) phase.
    • During most (lunar) months, the Sun lies either above or below one of the nodes, and no eclipse happens.

    PYQ:

    2013:

    Consider the following phenomena

    1. Size of the sun at dusk

    2. Colure of the sun at dawn

    3. Moon being visible at dawn

    4. Twinkle of stars in the sky

    5. Polestar being visible in the sky

    Which of the above are optical illusions?

    (a) 1, 2 and 3

    (b) 3, 4 and 5

    (c) 1, 2 and 4

    (d) 2, 3 and 5

     

    Practice MCQ:

    Which of the following statements best characterizes a Total Solar Eclipse?

    (a) A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon partially blocks the Sun, leaving a visible ring of sunlight around the Moon’s silhouette.

    (b) During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun, casting a shadow on a narrow path on the Earth’s surface called the umbra.

    (c) Total solar eclipses occur more frequently than partial solar eclipses due to the precise alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

    (d) Total solar eclipses can only be observed from specific locations on Earth, making them rare and highly sought-after astronomical events.

  • Ikshvaku Period Lead Coins unearthed in Phanigiri

    Why in the news?

    • Telangana’s Department of Heritage has recently unearthed a lead coin hoard belonging to Ikshvaku Period at Phanigiri, a renowned Buddhist heritage site.
    • The coins numbering 3,730 bore an elephant symbol on the obverse and a Ujjain symbol on the reverse.

    Who were the Ikshvaku (225-340 A.D)?

    1. Origin and Rule
    • The Ikshvaku dynasty was a feudatory under the patronage of the Satavahanas.
    • Their capital was located at Vijayapuri, modern-day Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh.
    • They ruled over the delta of the Krishna and Godavari rivers on the east coast of the Andhra region.
    • They claimed to be descendants of the legendary king Ikshvaku, mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Rigveda and Ramayana.
    • The dynasty’s founder was Vasishthiputra Chamtamula, who rose to power after the decline of the Satavahana dynasty.
    1. Cultural Affiliations
    • The Ikshvakus were Shaivites and performed Vedic rites, but they also patronized Buddhism, which flourished during their reign.
    • Under the reign of Vasishthi-putra Ehuvala Chamtamula, the Ikshvaku kingdom reached its zenith, marked by the construction of numerous Hindu and Buddhist shrines.
    • Their inscriptions and coins have been discovered at various archaeological sites, including Nagarjunakonda, Jaggayyapeta, Kottampalugu, Gurazala, Rentala, and Uppugunduru.
    1. Decline:
    • Successive rulers, such as Mathari-putra Vira-purusha-datta, Vasishthi-putra Ehuvala Chamtamula, and Vasishthi-putra Rudra-purusha-datta, contributed to the expansion and governance of the kingdom.
    • By the mid-4th century, the Pallavas had gained control of the former Ikshvaku territory, marking the decline of the dynasty.

    About Phanigiri

    • Phanigiri village derived its name from the shape of the hillock, which appears to be like a snake hood.
    • The word Phani in Sanskrit means snake and Giri means hillock.
    • Studies suggest that the village had a vibrant life from 1000 BC to 18th century AD.
    • Phanigiri is believed to be one of the important Buddhist monasteries strategically located on the hilltop, on the ancient trade route (Dakshinapatha) connecting the west and the east coast of the Deccan.
    • Various stages of earlier excavations here discovered Mahastupa, apsidal Chaityagrihas, Votive stupas, pillared congregation halls, Viharas, platforms with staircases at various levels, octagonal stupa chaitya, 24-pillared mandapam, circular Chaitya.
    • Cultural materials included terracotta beads, semi-precious beads, iron objects, Brahmi label inscriptions and holy relic casket.

     

     

    PYQ:

    [2017] How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of Gupta Numismatic Art is not at all noticeable in later times?

  • Mangal Pandey: A Revolutionary Icon of Indian Independence

    Why in the news?

    It was on April 8th 167 years ago in 1857, Mangal Pandey was hanged.

    Who was Mangal Pandey?

    • Mangal Pandey, born on July 19, 1827, in Nagwa village of the Ballia district in present-day Uttar Pradesh.
    • He belonged to the kingdom of Awadh, which had been treacherously annexed by the British in 1856.
    • At the age of 22, he enlisted as a soldier in the British East India Company’s army, joining the 34th Bengal Native Infantry.

    Recap of his revolutionary activities

    1. Annexation of Awadh
    • The Begums of Awadh had an understanding with the British, and had been abiding by the terms of the agreement.
    • In spite of this, Awadh was annexed, in February 1856, which was greatly resented by the people.
    • Awadh was a region that supplied large numbers of soldiers of war to the Company’s army.
    • There were 75,000 soldiers from Awadh, and almost every agricultural family in the kingdom had a representative in the army.
    • Whatever happened in Awadh was of immediate concern to the Sepoy.
    1. Rise of Resentment
    • The deposition of the Nawab and the confiscation of the villages of taluqdars during the land revenue settlement of 1856 caused outrage.
    • Some 14,000 petitions were received from the Sepoys about the hardships they faced on account of the revenue system.
    • Mangal Pandey represented the discontent that the misery of British rule had brought upon peasant families.
    1. Flashpoint and the mutiny
    • Mangal Pandey was stationed at Barrackpore, near Calcutta (now Kolkata), where he became involved in a significant event that would later be known as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.
    • He refused to use the newly introduced Enfield rifle, the cartridges of which had a covering that was believed to be made of animal fat (beef and pork), and which had to be bit open before the cartridges could be used.
    • This was viewed by the soldiers as a direct assault on their religious beliefs by the British who intended to bring an end to their religion and propagate Christianity.
    • On March 29, 1857, Pandey mutinied and fired at his Senior Sergeant Major.
    • He was overpowered and hanged on April 8, 1857, by the order of a Court Martial at Lal Bagan in Barrackpore.
    • His regiment was disbanded, like the 19th infantry at Behrampore, for showing resentment.

    PYQ:

    [2019] The 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British Rule. Elucidate.

     

  • AgniKul ‘Agnibaan SOrTeD’ Mission

    Why in the news?

    • For the second time, the launch of AgniKul ‘Agnibaan SOrTeD’ has been postponed.
    • The IIT Madras-based Agnikul Cosmos was to test-fire an Agnibaan rocket with 3D-printed engine, aiming for suborbital flight trajectory control.

    What is Agnibaan SOrTeD (Suborbital Tech Demonstrator)?

    • Agnibaan SOrTeD is a single-stage launch vehicle powered by Agnikul’s patented Agnilet semi-cryogenic engine.
    • In contrast to traditional sounding rockets, Agnibaan SOrTeD’s vertical take-off and precise trajectory enable orchestrated maneuvers during flight.

    Distinct Features of Agnibaan:

    • Customizability: The rocket offers custom launch configurations, either single or two-stage launches.
    • Dimensions: Standing at 18 meters and weighing 14,000 kg, Agnibaan SOrTeD is a powerful presence.
    • Payload Capacity: With a capacity for payloads of up to 100 kg, it can reach altitudes of 700 km in five different Lower Earth Orbits (LEOs).
    • Engine Configuration: The first stage can house up to seven Agnilet engines, powered by Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene, dependent on the mission’s requirements.
    • Launch Pedestal ‘Dhanush’: AgniKul’s built ‘Dhanush’ supports the rocket’s mobility across configurations, ensuring compatibility with multiple launch ports.
    • Agnilet Engine: Agnilet engine, a 3D-printed, single-piece, 6 kN semi-cryogenic marvel, drives Agnibaan’s propulsion. The engine employs a novel blend of liquid kerosene and supercold liquid oxygen as propellants.

    PYQ:

    [2011] Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when:

    1.    The orbit is geosynchronous.

    2.    The orbit is circular.

    3.    The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator.

    4.    The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

    (b) 1, 3 and 4 only

    (c) 2 and 4 Only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • What is Project Akashteer?

    Why in the news?

    • The Indian Army’s Corps of Army Air Defense has initiated the induction of control and reporting systems under ‘Project Akashteer’ to bolster its air defense capabilities.

    About Project Akashteer

    • The Akashteer Project is an initiative designed to automate air defence control and reporting processes by digitising the entire process.
    • It is developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
    • It seeks to induct Akashteer Command and Control Systems
    • By integrating radar and communication systems at all levels into a unified network, ‘Akashteer’ aims to deliver an unprecedented level of situational awareness and control.
    • This will enable swift engagement of hostile targets, significantly reduce the risk of fratricide, and ensure the safety of friendly aircraft in contested airspace.

    How it will help India’s air defence system?

    The ‘Akashteer Command and Control Systems’ will significantly enhance India’s air defense capabilities in several ways:

    1. Efficiency and Integration: Digitizing Air Defence Control and Reporting processes with ‘Akashteer’ will improve efficiency and integration. This enables the Indian Army to respond swiftly to hostile threats while reducing the risk of friendly fire incidents.
    2. Situational Awareness: ‘Akashteer’ integrates radar and communication systems into a unified network, providing the Indian Army with better situational awareness. This enables them to detect and engage hostile targets more effectively, ensuring the safety of friendly aircraft in contested airspace.
    3. Mobility and Resilience: The system’s vehicle-based and mobile Control Centers are designed for operational capabilities even in challenging communication environments. This ensures that the Indian Army can operate effectively in diverse terrain and adverse conditions.
    4. Automation: Deployment of ‘Akashteer’ represents a move towards complete automation of air defense operations. This enhances the Indian Army’s ability to defend its airspace, ensuring a safer and more secure future for the country.

    PYQ:

    [2018] What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news?

    (a) An Israeli radar system

    (b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme

    (c) An American anti-missile system

    (d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea

  • RBI to launch Mobile App for Retail Direct scheme

    Why in the news?

    The RBI has decided to introduce a Mobile App of its RBI Retail Direct scheme aimed at facilitating seamless investment in government securities by retail investors.

    What is Retail Direct Scheme?

    • Retail Direct Scheme was rolled out in November 2021, giving access to individual investors to maintain gilt accounts with RBI and invest in government securities.
    • Using this app, investors can buy central and state government bonds as well as Treasury bills.
    • It enables investors to buy securities in primary auctions as well as buy/sell securities through the Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching system (NDS-OM) platform.
    • A Gilt Account can be compared with a bank account, except that the account is debited or credited with treasury bills or government securities instead of money.

    Treasury Bills:

    • They are promissory notes issued by the RBI on behalf of the government as a short term liability and sold to banks and to the public.
    • The maturity period ranges from 14 to 364 days.
    • They are the negotiable instruments, i.e. they are freely transferable.
    • No interest is paid on such bills but they are issued at a discount on their face value.

     How does it work?

    • Under the scheme, small investors can buy or sell government securities (G-Secs), or bonds, directly without an intermediary like a mutual fund.
    • However, the same tax rules apply to income from G-Secs.
    • The minimum amount for a bid is ₹10,000 and in multiples of ₹10,000 thereafter.
    • Payments may be made through Net banking or the UPI

    Benefits of RDS

    • With the government being the borrower, there is a sovereign guarantee for the funds and hence zero risk of default.
    • Also, government securities may offer better interest rates than bank fixed deposits, depending on prevailing interest rate trends.

    How can individuals access G-Sec offerings?

    • Investors wishing to open a Retail Direct Gilt account directly with the RBI can do so through an online portal set up for the purpose of the scheme.
    • Once the account is activated with the aid of a password sent to the user’s mobile phone, investors will be permitted to buy securities either in the primary market or in the secondary market.

    PYQ:

    [2018] Consider the following statements:

    1. The Reserve Bank of India manages and services Government of India Securities but not any State Government Securities.

    2. Treasury bills are issued by the Government of India and there are no treasury bills issued by the State Governments.

    3. Treasury bills offer are issued at a discount from the par value.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 3 only

    (c) 2 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3