Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 1 and 2

Statements 1 and 2 are correct as they accurately describe the RBI Retail Direct scheme for retail investors and the NDS-OM platform for government securities trading. Statement 3 is incorrect because CDSL was promoted by BSE with commercial banks, not the RBI.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Under the RBI Retail Direct scheme launched in November 2021, retail investors can invest in Treasury Bills and Government of India Debt Bonds in the primary market through their demat accounts or by opening a Retail Direct Gilt (RDG) account.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching (NDS-OM) is an anonymous, electronic, screen-based trading platform for government securities owned by the Reserve Bank of India and operated by the Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Central Depository Services Ltd (CDSL) was promoted by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in association with leading commercial banks like State Bank of India, Bank of India, and HDFC Bank, not by the RBI.

📝 Short Notes: Government Securities Market Infrastructure

• RBI Retail Direct Scheme: Launched in November 2021 to enable direct retail participation in government securities markets through online portal.
• NDS-OM Platform: Electronic trading platform for G-Secs operated since 2005; provides anonymous order matching for primary dealers, banks, and other eligible participants.
• Central Depositories in India: Two depositories - NSDL (promoted by NSE, IDBI Bank, and Unit Trust of India) and CDSL (promoted by BSE with commercial banks).
• Treasury Bills: Short-term government securities with maturities of 91 days, 182 days, and 364 days; issued at discount and redeemed at face value.
• Government of India Bonds: Long-term debt instruments issued by the Central Government with varying maturities ranging from 5 to 40 years.