1. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). (DEC 2012)

Assertion (A): North India between 750 AD and 1200 AD witnessed the emergence and full growth of a new politico-socio-economic structure.
Reason (R): There is total unanimity among historians to describe this new structure as “feudalism”.

Read the above statements and select the correct answers from the codes given below:

Codes:
(1) (A) is correct but (R) is false.
(2) (A) is incorrect but (R) is correct.
(3) Both are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(4) Both are correct and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Answer: 1

The correct answer is (1) (A) is correct but (R) is false.

The assertion is correct because North India between c. 750 AD and 1200 AD did witness the emergence and maturation of a new politico-socio-economic structure. This was the period of major regional kingdoms such as the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty, Pala Empire, Rashtrakuta Dynasty (in wider Indian politics), later Rajput states, and other regional powers. Important developments included widespread land grants, rise of intermediary chiefs and samantas, localized military authority, agrarian expansion into forested zones, increased role of Brahmadeya and temple endowments, growth of caste-based rural society, and decentralization of political power. These changes together indicate the formation of a new medieval order.

The reason is false because there is no total unanimity among historians in describing this structure as “feudalism.” While some influential historians such as R. S. Sharma used the concept of Indian feudalism to explain land grants, decline of trade, dependence of peasants, and decentralization, many others have debated, modified, or rejected the term. Scholars have argued for alternative interpretations such as segmentary state models, integrative polity models, peasant expansion, regional state formation, or specifically Indian patterns that do not fit European feudalism exactly.

Therefore, the assertion is correct, but the reason is false. Hence, Option (1) is the correct answer.