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-renewable energy sources are associated with environmental pollution and resource depletion, which is correct. Non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), when burned for energy production, release pollutants into the atmosphere. These pollutants contribute to air pollution, climate change, and other environmental issues. Additionally, non-renewable energy sources are limited in quantity and finite in nature. They are formed over millions of years through geological processes, and their extraction and consumption rates far exceed their natural replenishment rates. As a result, the extensive use of non-renewable energy sources leads to resource depletion.

The reason provided states that non-renewable energy sources release pollutants and are limited in quantity, and this is the correct explanation of the assertion. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution, smog, and climate change. These pollutants have detrimental effects on human health, ecosystems, and the overall environment. Furthermore, the limited quantity of non-renewable energy sources means that their availability will eventually decline, making them unsustainable in the long term.

Therefore, both the assertion and reason are correct, and the reason serves as the correct explanation for why non-renewable energy sources are associated with environmental pollution and resource depletion.