Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire.
Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India.
(a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan empirein 261 BC. Though Ashoka abandoned the policy ofphysical occupation in favour of policy of culturalconquest after the Kalinga War, yet he retained Kalingaafter its conquest and incorporated it into his empire.Thus R explains A.
