Assertion: There was a lack of all-weather roads in rural areas during colonial times causing significant suffering during natural calamities and famines.

Reasoning: The roads constructed during the colonial period primarily served the military's needs within India and facilitated the transportation of raw materials from rural areas to the nearest railway stations or ports for export to England and other foreign markets.

Both Assertion (A) and reasoning (R) are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

Before British rule, the roads in India were not suitable for modern transportation. The roads constructed during the colonial period primarily served the military's needs within India and facilitated the transportation of raw materials from rural areas to the nearest railway stations or ports for export to England and other foreign markets. As a result, there was a lack of all-weather roads in rural areas, causing significant suffering during natural calamities and famines.