Assertion (A):  India is an information society.

Reason (R): An information society is that in which the percentage contribution to GDP and the percentage of population working is services sector is greater.

(A) Both (A) and (R) are true

(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

Correct Ans: (B)

Explanation:

India qualifies as an information society because it relies heavily on knowledge, communication, and digital technologies. The service sector, including IT, telecom, and media, plays a major role in economic growth. This makes assertion (A) true.

An information society is defined by a high contribution of the service sector to GDP and employment. In India, services contribute over 50% to GDP, and a large section of the population works in IT, banking, education, and media. This makes reason (R) true as well.

However, (R) does not fully explain (A). Being an information society involves more than economic factors. It also depends on technology access, digital infrastructure, education levels, and knowledge-based industries. While India has a strong digital presence, gaps in internet access, literacy, and technological inclusivity still exist.

Since both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the direct explanation of (A), the correct answer is (B).

India’s transition to an information society continues with digital transformation, AI adoption, and increasing internet penetration. Government initiatives like Digital India aim to bridge the gap and make knowledge accessible to all.