In the question given below there are 2 statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose the correct alternative from the following options.

Assertion (A)-  Lesser attention has been given by rural banking to the small and marginal farmers.

Reason (R)- The benefits of rural banking is mostly enjoyed by the rich farmers.

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

The correct answer is option 2:  Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Explanation:

• Assertion (A): It is true that rural banking has historically given less attention to small and marginal farmers compared to larger or more affluent farmers.

• Reason (R): The reason given is also true in the sense that benefits from rural banking are often skewed towards wealthier or larger farmers who have more assets and creditworthiness.

However, while both statements are true, the reason (R) does not fully explain why less attention has been given to small and marginal farmers. The issue is more complex and involves factors such as risk assessment, collateral requirements, and institutional biases rather than simply the benefits being enjoyed by the rich farmers.