Study the following statements and select the correct answer from the code given below: Assertion  (A): India has a written constitution. Reason (R): Growth of strong regional parties is an indicator of regional aspirations.

The correct answer is B. Both statements are true, but the Reason does not explain the Assertion.

• Assertion (true): India has a written constitution, adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and in force from 26 January 1950. It is among the longest written constitutions in the world.
• Reason (true as a political-science generalisation): Strong regional parties, such as DMK, TDP or Shiv Sena in their regional bases, usually articulate regional identities and demands, so their rise is read as a sign of regional aspirations.
• Why R does not explain A: The existence of a written constitution comes from the constitution-making process and the need for a codified framework for a diverse nation. The rise of regional parties is a later political development and has no causal link to the written form of the Constitution.

The concept here is the difference between a constitutional fact and a political-science observation. For Mains, the link is federalism and coalition politics after the 1989 era, where regional parties became important players in governance.

Trap: Aspirants see that both statements are true and choose A, assuming the Reason must explain the Assertion. Always check whether the Reason actually causes or explains the Assertion.