Option (d) is correct

Explanation

• Centre procures Tomato under Price Stabilization Fund to bring relief to consumers.
• Statement 1 is correct: Price Stabilization Fund was established in 2014-15  to absorb extreme volatility in selected commodity prices.
• Statement 2 is correct: In the budget speech of 2018-19, a new Scheme “Operation Greens” was announced on the line of “Operation Flood”, with an outlay of Rs. 500 crore to promote Farmer Producers Organizations, agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management.
• Operation Greens seeks to stabilize the supply of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) crops and to ensure availability of TOP crops throughout the country round the year without price volatility.

Option (b) is correct

Explanation:

• The Supreme Court cannot direct the Centre to include Rajasthani as an official language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Statement 1 is correct: Eighth Schedule lists the official languages of the republic of India.
• Statement 2 is correct: Part XVII of the Indian constitution deals with the official languages in Articles 343 to 351.
• The Constitutional provisions related to the Eighth Schedule are:
  • Article 344: Article 344(1) provides for the constitution of a Commission by the President on expiration of five years from the commencement of the Constitution.
  • Article 351: It provides for the spread of the Hindi language to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India.

Option (a) is correct

Explanation:

• The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu urged the Prime Minister to launch diplomatic steps to retrieve Katchatheevu, which was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974.

Option (c) is correct

Explanation:

• Rajya Sabha Chairman nominated four women parliamentarians to the panel of vice-chairpersons, giving women equal representation in the panel, for the first time in the history of the Rajya Sabha.
• Statement 1 is Correct: Under the Rules of Rajya Sabha, the Chairman nominates from amongst the members a panel of vice-chairpersons.
• Any one of them can preside over the House in the absence of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman.
• He/she has the same powers as the Chairman when so presiding and holds office until a new panel of vice-chairpersons is nominated.
• Statement 2 is Correct:When a member of the panel of vice chairpersons is also not present, any other person as determined by the House acts as the Chairman.
• A member of the panel of vice chairpersons cannot preside over the House, when the office of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman is vacant.

Option (c) is correct

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is Correct: Rule 176 permits short-duration discussions in the Rajya Sabha.
• The notice must specify the matter to be raised clearly and precisely and be accompanied by an explanatory note stating reasons for the discussion.
• Statement 2 is Correct: Under it, there shall be no formal motion or voting during a short-duration discussion; the member who gave the notice makes a short statement, and the Minister replies shortly.
• Statement 3 is Correct: Any member can give written notice to the Secretary-General, expressing their desire to raise a discussion on a matter of urgent public importance.
• The notice must also be supported by the signatures of at least two other members.
• Once the Chairman approves the notice, he, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, will fix the date and time for the discussion, which should not exceed two and a half hours.

Option (b) is correct

Explanation:

• The Black Sea is bordered to the north by Russia and Ukraine , Turkey to the south, Bulgaria to the west, and Georgia to the east. Romania also has an opening to the Black Sea. 
• The Black Sea lies between the continents of Asia and Europe.
•  It is bound to the west by the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe, to the east by the Caucasus, north by East European Plains, and south by Anatolia of Western Asia.

Image Credits: BBC