Consider the following statements 1. India is the original home of the cotton plant. 2. India is the first country in the world to develop hybrid cotton variety leading to increased production. Which of these statements is/are correct?

The correct answer is C because both statements are factually accurate. Statement 1 is correct because historical and archaeological evidence, such as findings from the Indus Valley Civilization, confirms that cotton has been grown and used in India for over 5,000 years. India is widely recognized as one of the earliest regions to domesticate the cotton plant. Statement 2 is correct because India was indeed the first country to develop and commercially exploit hybrid cotton. This was achieved in 1970 with the release of the H-4 variety, developed by Dr. C.T. Patel at the Surat Agricultural University. This innovation significantly boosted cotton productivity and production in the country.