Correct Option :
4) A is false, but R is true
The assertion (A) that the origin of the feudal system in ancient India can be traced to military campaigns is incorrect. The feudal system in India, often characterized by land grants (especially to Brahmins and religious institutions) and the emergence of intermediaries between the state and the peasantry, primarily originated from administrative and economic factors rather than solely military campaigns. Early land grants, such as Brahmadeya and Devadana, were often made for religious merit or to bring new lands under cultivation, leading to the decentralization of power and the rise of local potentates.
The reason (R) that there was considerable expansion of the feudal system during the Gupta period is correct. The Gupta period witnessed a significant increase in land grants, particularly to religious functionaries and institutions, which often came with administrative and fiscal immunities. This practice led to the emergence of a class of landed intermediaries, who exercised considerable control over land and its cultivators, thereby strengthening the feudal structure. This expansion continued and intensified in the post-Gupta period.
Incorrect Options:
1) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
This option is incorrect because Assertion (A) is false. The origin of the feudal system is not primarily linked to military campaigns. Furthermore, even if both were true, R would not be the correct explanation for A, as the expansion during the Gupta period does not explain the system's origin.
2) Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
This option is incorrect because Assertion (A) is false. While Reason (R) is true, the premise that both are true is incorrect.
3) A is true, but R is false
This option is incorrect because Assertion (A) is false, and Reason (R) is true. The feudal system's expansion during the Gupta period is a well-documented historical fact.