Question

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

Answer 1

(a) Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan empire in 261 BC. Though Ashoka abandoned the policy of physical occupation in favour of policy of cultural conquest after the Kalinga War, yet he retained Kalinga after its conquest and incorporated it into his empire. Thus R explains A.