Final answer:
Option B is the correct alternative. Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true, but reason (R) is not the correct explanation of assertion (A).
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is option B. Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true, but reason (R) is not the correct explanation of assertion (A).
While it is true that economic and social equality was considered as the principal goal of planning (assertion A), the reason provided (reason R) stating that real income of the people decreased due to high rate of inflation does not adequately explain or support assertion A. The decrease in real income due to high rate of inflation may be a factor that hampers economic and social equality, but it is not the principal goal of planning.
Therefore, option B is the correct alternative.