Consider the following statement: Assertion (A): People and their problems are unique Reason (R): Active listening conveys something to the person who is listing to

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

The assertion holds because every individual carries a distinct mix of background, temperament, circumstances and experience, so their problems cannot be treated as identical. This is the core idea of person-centred administration: an officer who applies one template to everyone will fail many people.

The reason is also true. Active listening, which involves focused attention, reflecting back and clarifying, tells the speaker that they have been heard and understood. But that is a point about how communication works, not about why people or their problems are unique. So R is not the explanation of A.

• Option A is wrong because R does not explain A. Listening does not cause uniqueness.
• Option C is wrong because R is a correct statement about communication.
• Option D is wrong because A is a sound, widely accepted premise.

Mains angle: this connects to ethics and civil service values such as empathy and compassion, and to grievance redressal, where listening comes before diagnosis.

Trap: Aspirants see a thematic link between the two statements and mark A, assuming the reason supplies the cause.