With reference to the 7th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) meeting held between India and Bhutan, consider the following statements 1 : 1. The meeting was co-chaired by officials from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), India, and the Department of Revenue and Customs, Bhutan 1 . 2. Bhutan shares designated land customs border points exclusively situated within the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam 1 . 3. Land trade between the two nations is operated through 10 notified land customs stations 1 . 4. The border between India and Bhutan is officially guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF) 1 . Which of the statements given above are correct?

The correct answer is 1, 2, and 3 only . Key Points The 7th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) meeting was held to strengthen bilateral cooperation and streamline cross-border trade procedures, where the Indian delegation was led by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Bhutanese side by the Department of Revenue and Customs . Hence, statement 1 is correct. Geographically, Bhutan is a landlocked nation that relies heavily on India for transit; its primary land customs border points for international trade are located in the neighboring Indian states of West Bengal (such as Jaigaon) and Assam (such as Darranga and Hattisar). Hence, statement 2 is correct. The operational framework for land-based commerce between the two countries involves 10 notified land customs stations , which serve as the official conduits for the movement of goods and revenue collection. Hence, statement 3 is correct. The 699 km long international border between India and Bhutan is officially guarded by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) , not the Border Security Force (BSF), which is primarily responsible for the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect. Additional Information Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) : Established in 1963 following the Sino-Indian War, it functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs . It is designated as the lead intelligence agency for the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders to ensure security and prevent trans-border crimes. India-Bhutan Trade Relations : The Agreement on Trade, Commerce, and Transit provides a free trade regime between the two nations. Major Indian exports include mineral products , machinery , and base metals , while Bhutan exports electricity , ferro-silicon , and cement . Recent initiatives include the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) to facilitate the seamless movement of transit cargo.