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

Assertion: The account of François Bernier during the time of his visit about the economic India seems to be conflicting.
Reasoning: At one place he felt that artisans had no incentive to improve the quality of their manufactures since profits were appropriated by the state. Manufacturers were, consequently, everywhere in decline. At the same time, he conceded that vast quantities of the world's precious metals flowed into India, as manufacturers were exported in exchange for gold and silver.

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

While Bernier’s preoccupation with projecting the Mughal state as tyrannical is obvious, his descriptions occasionally hint at a more complex social reality. For instance, he felt that artisans had no incentive to improve the quality of their manufactures, since profits were appropriated by the state. Manufactures were, consequently, everywhere in decline. At the same time, he conceded that vast quantities of the world’s precious metals flowed into India, as manufactures were exported in exchange for gold and silver. He also noticed the existence of a prosperous merchant community, engaged in long-distance exchange.