Assertion (A) : The USA re-emerged as India’s single largest import source in the early nineties. Reason (R) : With swift political developments in the erstwhile Soviet Union, India gradually began to rely on the USA for its defence requirements. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

Assertion (A) is true: after the Soviet collapse and India’s 1991 economic liberalisation New Delhi fostered closer ties with the United States and Western economies, leading to a rapid growth in US–India trade and the US re-emerging as a principal import partner in the early 1990s [2]. Reason (R) is not a correct explanation: the rise of US imports reflected broad economic liberalisation and commercial ties rather than a primary shift in defence procurement; India’s defence dependence on the USSR declined over time, but reliance on US defence supplies was not the main driver of overall import flows immediately in the early 1990s [1]. Thus A is true and R is false.

Sources

1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INDIA'S ROLE IN WORLD AFFAIRS > p. 59
2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INDIA'S ROLE IN WORLD AFFAIRS > p. 58