Assertion: Extensive poverty prevailed in India during the colonial period which contributed to the worsening profile of India’s population of the time.

Reasoning: Census conducted by Britishers provided an exact data of poverty during colonial times in India.

Assertion (A) is true but Reasoning (R) is not correct.

The correct answer is option 3: Assertion (A) is true but Reasoning (R) is not correct.

• Assertion (A): Extensive poverty did prevail in India during the colonial period, which did contribute to a worsening profile of India’s population in terms of living standards and economic conditions. This assertion is true.

• Reasoning (R): The census conducted by the British did provide detailed demographic data, but it did not specifically provide exact data on poverty. The primary purpose of these censuses was to collect information on population size, distribution, and other demographic details rather than a detailed economic analysis of poverty. Thus, the Reasoning is false.

"In the absence of reliable data, it is difficult to specify the extent of poverty during the time of Britishers but there is no doubt that extensive poverty prevailed in India during the colonial period which contributed to the worsening profile of India’s population of the time."