The correct answer is Option 1: Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Statement-I states that recent post-pandemic, many Central Banks worldwide had carried out interest rate hikes. This is generally true as central banks have been adjusting interest rates to manage the economic effects of the pandemic. Statement-II says that Central Banks generally assume they can counteract rising consumer prices via monetary policy means. This is also true as central banks often use interest rates to control inflation.

The reason Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I is because by raising interest rates, central banks aim to decrease borrowing and spending, leading to lower demand for goods and thus lower consumer prices (counteracting inflation). Therefore, both statements are interrelated and Statement-II explains the rationale behind the occurrence mentioned in Statement-I.