Which of the following statement is correct about the Mauryan empire?

A) The Mauryan Empire was founded by Samudragupta Maurya.
B) Chandragupta Maurya was the grandfather of Asoka.
C) The Mauryan empire extended up to Afghanistan and Baluchistan in the northwest.
D) Chandragupta Maurya conquered Kalinga in 261 BC.

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

B and C only

The rise of Magadha reached its pinnacle with the establishment of the Mauryan Empire. Chandragupta Maurya, the visionary behind this empire (around 321 BCE), expanded its dominion, encompassing regions as distant as Afghanistan and Baluchistan in the northwest. Asoka, the esteemed grandson of Chandragupta, emerged as one of the most renowned rulers of ancient India, conquering Kalinga, the present-day coastal region of Orissa.