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

Assertion: The nobility of the Mughals was recruited from diverse ethnic and religious groups.
Reason: This ensured that no faction was large enough to challenge the authority of the state.

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

The nobility was recruited from diverse ethnic and religious groups. This ensured that no faction was large enough to challenge the authority of the state.  The officer corps of the Mughals was described as a bouquet of flowers (guldasta) held together by loyalty to the emperor.