Explanation:

The Soil Health Card Day was observed on February 19 to commemorate the day Soil Health Card Scheme was launched by the PM Modi on February 19, 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan. The objectives of the Soil Health Card scheme are to issue soil health cards to farmers every 3 years so as to provide a basis to address nutritional deficiencies in fertilization practises. Soil health card provides information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health. Soil testing is developed to promote soil test based on nutrient management. Soil testing reduces cultivation cost by application of right quantity of fertilizer. A 2017 study by the National Productivity Council (NPC) found that the SHC scheme has promoted sustainable farming and led to a decrease of use of chemical fertilizer application in the range of 8-10%. Besides, overall increase in the yield of crops to the tune of 5-6% was reported due to application of fertilizer and micro nutrients as per recommendations available in the Soil Health Cards. The International year of soils was celebrated in 2015, the same year India’s Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme was launched. Hence only statement 2nd is correct.

For More Please check Link 1: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1603569

Right Link 2: http://www.nmsa.dac.gov.in/pdfDoc/SHM_Guidelines472016.pdf