Q.For Question number 6, two statements are given — one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Read these statements carefully and choose the correct option as the answer from the options (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below. Assertion (A) : Oil continues to be the most important resource in global strategy. Reason (R) : The immense wealth associated with oil generates political struggles. (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false. (D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Oil remains central to global strategic calculations because it powers economies, militaries, and transportation networks worldwide. No other energy source has yet matched its portability, energy density, and established infrastructure, making control over oil supplies a matter of national security for most states.

The immense wealth that oil generates does indeed trigger political struggles. Oil-rich regions become sites of geopolitical competition, internal conflict, and international intervention. States and non-state actors fight to control oil fields, pipelines, and export routes because whoever controls oil wields both economic power and political leverage. This wealth concentration also fuels corruption, authoritarian governance, and resource conflicts within oil-producing countries.

The reason directly explains the assertion: oil's strategic importance stems precisely from the fact that its associated wealth makes it worth fighting over. The political struggles generated by oil wealth reinforce why oil remains the most important resource in global strategy. Both statements are true, and the causal link between them is clear. …

The question of why oil occupies such a commanding position in international relations cannot be separated from the economic and political power it confers. Since the mid-twentieth century, petroleum has been the lifeblood of industrial economies—powering transport, manufacturing, and energy grids. Control over oil reserves and supply routes translates directly into geopolitical leverage. Nations that possess large reserves or dominate chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz wield disproportionate influence in world affairs.

The assertion that oil continues to be the most important resource in global strategy is demonstrably true. Despite advances in renewable energy, the global economy remains heavily dependent on oil. Major powers structure their foreign policies around securing access to oil, protecting supply lines, and maintaining relationships with oil-producing states. Military interventions, alliances, and diplomatic manoeuvres in the Middle East, the Caspian region, and other oil-rich areas underscore this strategic priority.

The reason given—that immense wealth associated with oil generates political struggles—is equally true and directly explains the assertion. Oil revenues create what is often called the "resource curse": vast financial flows that can destabilise governments, fuel corruption, and ignite both internal and interstate conflicts. Competition for oil wealth has driven wars, coups, and proxy conflicts. The 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf, and the scramble for African oil fields all illustrate how oil wealth becomes a flashpoint for political struggle. This wealth also enables oil-rich states to project power, fund military buildups, and resist external pressure, further embedding oil in the calculus of global strategy. …