Assertion (A): The Ashoka pillars, made of polished sand
stone, are famous for their distinctive Mauryan polish, which has given them a remarkable
gloss that has survived for over two millennia in many cases. Thus, the assertion is true.
Reason (R): The Ashoka pillars are located in various parts of the Indian subcontinent (e.g.,
Sarnath, Vaishali, Delhi-Topra, Lauriya Nandangarh), many of which experience monsoon cli
mates with significant rainfall and moisture-laden winds. The exceptional preservation of the
polish is primarily attributed to the highly advanced polishing techniques of the Mauryan pe
riod and the quality of the material, rather than the absence of moisture. Therefore, the reason
given is factually incorrect for many locations. Since (A) is true and (R) is false. This matches
option (3)