Assertion (A): The eastern coast of India produces more rice than the western coast. Reason (R): The eastern coast receives more rainfall than the western coast.

The assertion is true because the eastern coast of India has wide deltaic plains formed by rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri. These fertile alluvial soils and the flat topography are highly suitable for intensive rice cultivation, making it the rice bowl of India. The reason is false because the western coast actually receives significantly higher rainfall than the eastern coast. The Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden South-West monsoon winds, leading to heavy orographic rainfall on the western coastal strip. In contrast, the eastern coast receives moderate rainfall, much of it during the retreating monsoon. Therefore, while the east produces more rice due to its geography and soil, it is not because it receives more rain than the west.