Correct Option: A

Ways and means advances (WMA) is a mechanism used by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under its credit policy by which provides to the States banking with it to help them to tide over temporary mismatches in the cash flow of their receipts and payments. These are temporary advances (overdrafts) extended by RBI to the government. Section 17(5) of RBI Act allows RBI to make WMA both to the Central and State governments. It aims to bridge the interval between expenditure and receipts.