Assertion (A) : During the time of Akbar, for every ten cavalrymen, the mansabdars had to maintain twenty horses. Reason (R) : Horses had to be rested while on march and replacements were necessary in times of war.

The correct answer is Option 1.

The Assertion (A) is correct because under Akbar’s Mansabdari system, the Dah-Bisti (ten-twenty) rule was implemented. This rule required a mansabdar to maintain a ratio of two horses for every single sawar (cavalryman). This ensured that the military remained mobile and efficient.

The Reason (R) provides the logical justification for this ratio. During long marches and intense military campaigns, horses would succumb to fatigue, injury, or death. Having spare horses was essential for:

• Rest and Rotation: Allowing exhausted horses to recover while the march continued.
• Combat Readiness: Providing immediate replacements for horses lost in battle.
• Speed: Ensuring the cavalry's swift movement across the vast Mughal Empire.

Since the necessity of replacements (R) directly explains why the specific 10:20 ratio was mandated (A), both statements are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.