Assertion: A sharp decrease in death rates, maternal mortality rates (MMR), and infant mortality rates (IMR) has resulted in a significant increase in population.
Reason: This rapid population growth has caused a severe shortage of essential resources, such as food and housing.

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

The correct answer is Option (2)- Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

The assertion mentions that the rapid decline in death rates, maternal mortality rates (MMR), and infant mortality rates (IMR) has led to a sharp rise in population. Rapid decline in death rate, MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate) and IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) have all happened due to significant improvement in quality of life, increased medical facilities, awareness about reproduction related facts such as pre and post- natal care of mother’s vaccination of children, etc., supported by better living conditions. As a result, there has been a staggering rise in population. While the reason states that rapid population growth has led to a scarcity of resources like food and shelter, it doesn’t explain why the population increased in the first place