'Consistent with the stance of monetary policy and based on the current assessment of prevailing and evolving liquidity conditions, RBI has decided to conduct Open Market Operations by purchasing government securities for an aggregate amount of Rs 12,000 crore on January 6, 2012, through a multi-security auction...,' the apex bank said in a statement.

The auction is to be conducted by the bank at its Mumbai office. The auction will be for government securities (G-Sec) maturing in 2017 with a coupon rate of 8.07 per cent, G-Secs maturing in 2021 with a coupon rate of 7.8 per cent, G-Sec maturing in 2022 with an 8.13 per cent coupon rate and G-Secs maturing in 2027 with an 8.26 per cent coupon rate.

'There is an overall aggregate ceiling of Rs 12,000 crore for all the securities in the basket put together. There is no security-wise notified amount,' RBI said.

RBI Deputy Governor Subir Gokarn had said that liquidity is likely to be under pressure for some more time due to factors like advance tax payment.