Consider the following statements about Coal India Limited (CIL). Which of them are correct?

Introduction / Context:
Coal India Limited (CIL) is one of the most important public sector enterprises in India and plays a central role in the country's energy sector. Exam questions often ask about its status, size, and headquarters, since these facts combine elements of geography, economics, and public administration. This particular question provides three statements and asks which are correct, testing the ability to distinguish accurate corporate details from incorrect ones.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Statement 1: Coal India Limited is designated as a Maharatna company under the Ministry of Coal.
• Statement 2: It is the single largest coal producing company in the world.
• Statement 3: The headquarters of Coal India Limited is located at Ranchi in Jharkhand.
• We must identify the correct combination of statements based on widely accepted and stable facts.

Concept / Approach:
The Maharatna status is given by the Government of India to select Central Public Sector Enterprises that have strong financial performance and strategic importance. Coal India Limited is one such Maharatna company. It is also globally recognised as the largest coal producing company in terms of output. However, the corporate headquarters of Coal India Limited is located in Kolkata, West Bengal, not in Ranchi. Ranchi is associated with subsidiaries like Central Coalfields Limited. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate Statement 1. Coal India Limited has been granted Maharatna status by the Government of India, reflecting its size and importance, so Statement 1 is correct. Step 2: Evaluate Statement 2. Coal India Limited has consistently been described in official and exam oriented materials as the single largest coal producing company in the world, so Statement 2 is correct. Step 3: Evaluate Statement 3. The corporate headquarters of Coal India Limited are located in Kolkata, West Bengal. Ranchi is an important coal city but is not the headquarters of CIL. Therefore, Statement 3 is incorrect. Step 4: Combine the results. Only Statements 1 and 2 are correct together, while 3 is wrong. Step 5: Match this combination with the answer options, which corresponds to Statements 1 and 2 only.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official company information and government publications list Coal India Limited as a Maharatna public sector company under the Ministry of Coal and describe it as the largest coal producing company globally. They also clearly provide the headquarters address in Kolkata. Exam preparation books and reliable websites repeat these points consistently, which verifies that the first two statements are true and the third is false.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Statement 1 only is correct: This ignores the fact that Coal India is also the largest coal producer, so Statement 2 must be included.
• Statements 2 and 3 only: This combination treats the incorrect headquarters statement as true and omits Statement 1, so it cannot be correct.
• Statements 1, 2 and 3: This suggests all three are correct, but Statement 3 is clearly wrong regarding the headquarters location.
• Statement 3 only is correct: This directly contradicts the known facts about headquarters, status, and production.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates confuse the headquarters of Coal India Limited with the headquarters of one of its subsidiaries, many of which are located in coal mining states like Jharkhand or Chhattisgarh. Others may be uncertain about the term Maharatna and use it interchangeably with Navratna or Miniratna. It is important to memorise a small list of Maharatna companies and their headquarters to avoid such confusion in the exam.

Final Answer:
The correct set of statements is Statements 1 and 2 only.