Question

Two statements labelled as Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are given below. Read them carefully and select the correct option:
Assertion (A) : India was considered a suitable country for cotton cultivation due to its soil, climate and cheap labour, by the Britishers.
Reason (R) : The American Civil War (1861 – 65) caused a significant drop in raw cotton imports from America, leading Britain to seek alternative sources.

• A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• C. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
• D. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Hint:

When reading historical questions, differentiate between events that are true but may not be directly related to the primary cause or explanation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The assertion is correct, as India was indeed considered suitable for cotton cultivation by the British due to its favorable climatic conditions, fertile soil, and availability of cheap labour. However, the reason, although true, does not directly explain why India was considered a suitable country for cotton cultivation. The drop in American cotton exports due to the Civil War did make Britain seek alternatives, and India was one of those alternatives, but this is not the primary reason the British found India suitable for cotton cultivation.
Conclusion:
Therefore, both the Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason is not the direct explanation of the Assertion. Thus, the correct answer is (B).