Two statements are given, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Caste used to function as a social division of labour.
Reason (R): Caste has traditionally been linked to occupation.

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

The correct answer is Option 1: Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation for (A).

Assertion (A): "Caste used to function as a social division of labour." — Correct. Traditionally, the caste system organized society by allocating different occupations to different castes. Each caste was associated with specific hereditary occupations, creating a division of labour in which different groups performed different economic functions.

Reason (R): "Caste has traditionally been linked to occupation." — Correct. Occupation was one of the defining features of the traditional caste system, with occupations generally being hereditary and determined by birth. Since caste prescribed specific occupations for different groups, it functioned as a system of social division of labour. Therefore, the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.

NCERT: Castes were traditionally linked to occupations. A person born into a caste could only practice the occupation associated with that caste, so that occupations were hereditary, i.e. passed on from generation to generation. On the other hand, a particular occupation could only be pursued by the caste associated with it – members of other castes could not enter the occupation.