Correct Answer: Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Solution : The correct option is (a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

The assertion that the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) provides a legal guarantee of employment in rural areas is true. NREGS, also known as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), provides a legal guarantee of at least 100 days of wage employment to eligible households in rural India. This means that eligible individuals have the right to demand and receive employment opportunities under the scheme.

The reason provided is also correct. NREGS aims to alleviate rural poverty and reduce unemployment by offering manual work opportunities. The scheme provides employment to rural households through manual labor-intensive projects. It intends to provide income security, reduce poverty, and create durable assets in rural areas. By providing work opportunities, it addresses the issue of unemployment and helps improve the economic condition of rural communities.