Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). **Assertion (A):** The Varna system in the Later Vedic period transitioned from a flexible division of labor to a rigid, birth-based hierarchy. **Reason (R):** The growth of complex rituals, the monopoly of the Brahmanas over sacrificial knowledge, and the need to subjugate the indigenous population led to the institutionalization of hereditary status. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Options:

  • 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.

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