CivicsAssertion (A): Only those parties that are recognised as national parties can contest elections for the central government. Reason (R): Recognition of a political party as a national party is accorded by the Election Commission.

Assertion (A): Only those parties that are recognised as national parties can contest elections for the central government.

Reason (R): Recognition of a political party as a national party is accorded by the Election Commission.

A
Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
B
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
C
(A) is true, but (R) is false
D
(A) is false, but (R) is true

Solution:

Although the Election Commission of India recognises the parties with a nationwide presence as national parties, any party can contest in the general elections. The Election Commission accords the recognition of a political party as a national party based on the number of seats that they can fetch and the percentage of the votes polled in their favour in the elections. Thus, the Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.