Assertion (A):Population control is necessary to maintain the environment of the country.Reason (R):Due to the rapid increase in population, environmental balance is maintained.Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. A

   Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

   This option claims that both the assertion and reason are true and the reason explains the assertion. However, rapid population increase actually disrupts environmental balance rather than maintaining it, making the reason factually incorrect.

2. B

   Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

   This option claims that both statements are true while denying the explanatory relationship. Since the reason states that rapid population growth maintains environmental balance, which contradicts basic ecological principles, this statement is false.

3. C

   (A) is true, but (R) is false.

   This option asserts that the assertion is true, recognizing that population control is indeed necessary to safeguard and maintain the country's environmental integrity from overexploitation. It simultaneously correctly identifies that the reason is false because rapid population growth destroys rather than maintains environmental balance, thus making this option the correct choice.

4. D

   (A) is false, but (R) is true.

   This option claims that the assertion is false and the reason is true. This completely inverts reality, as unchecked population growth degrades resources while population control remains essential for sustainability.

Summary. Official key is (c) because the assertion correctly highlights the necessity of population control for environmental preservation. Meanwhile, the reason falsely claims that rapid population growth maintains environmental balance. In ecological terms, soaring population numbers strain natural resources, degrade air and water quality, and cause severe habitat destruction. Therefore, the assertion stands as a true statement while the reason is demonstrably false.