1. Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire. 2. Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India.

1. Assertion (A) is true. Emperor Ashoka conquered Kalinga and incorporated it into the Mauryan Empire after a devastating war, as famously documented in his inscriptions. 2. Reason (R) is also true. Kalinga held significant strategic importance due to its location on the eastern coast, controlling vital land and sea routes connecting the Ganges valley with South India and Southeast Asia. Control over these routes was crucial for trade and political influence. 3. The strategic importance of Kalinga (R) is widely considered a major reason for Ashoka's decision to annex it (A), making R a correct explanation of A.