Question : Assertion: Non-commercial energy sources are primarily used in rural areas due to limited access to commercial energy.
Reason: Non-commercial energy sources are often available locally and require simple technologies for utilization.
Option 1: Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
Option 2: Both assertion and reason are correct, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
Option 3: Assertion is correct, but the reason is incorrect.
Option 4: Assertion is incorrect, but the reason is correct.
Correct Answer:
Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
Solution : The correct answer is (a) Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
The assertion states that non-commercial energy sources are primarily used in rural areas due to limited access to commercial energy, which is correct. In many rural areas, particularly in developing regions, there is limited infrastructure for the distribution and availability of commercial energy sources such as electricity or fossil fuels. As a result, rural communities often rely on non-commercial energy sources for their energy needs. These non-commercial sources may include firewood, agricultural waste, animal dung, or other locally available biomass resources.
The reason provided states that non-commercial energy sources are often available locally and require simple technologies for utilization, and this is the correct explanation of the assertion. Non-commercial energy sources are typically abundant in rural areas. For example, biomass resources like firewood and agricultural waste can be easily obtained from the local surroundings. Moreover, these energy sources can be utilized with simple technologies such as traditional cookstoves or biomass gasifiers, which do not require complex infrastructure or advanced equipment.
Therefore, both the assertion and reason are correct, and the reason serves as the correct explanation for why non-commercial energy sources are primarily used in rural areas due to limited access to commercial energy.