In the given question, a statement of Assertion is followed by a statement of Reason. Mark the correct answer.

Assertion: A non-aligned posture served India’s interests very directly in many ways.
Reason: Non-alignment allowed India to take international decisions and stances that served its interests rather than the interests of the superpowers

Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

A non-aligned posture also served India’s interests very directly, in at least two ways:

First, non-alignment allowed India to take international decisions and stances that served its interests rather than the interests of the superpowers and their allies.

Second, India was often able to balance one superpower against the other. If India felt ignored or unduly pressurised by one superpower, it could tilt towards the other. Neither alliance system could take India for granted or bully it.