Consider the following statements regarding the Ain-i Akbari: 1. It was authored by Akbar’s court historian Abu’l Fazl. 2. It was completed in the first regnal year of the emperor. 3. It presents a view of the agrarian society from the perspective of the state. Which of the statements given above are correct?

The correct option is 1 and 3 only . Explanation The Ain-i Akbari is the third volume of the Akbarnama, a monumental historical project commissioned by Emperor Akbar. It serves as an administrative manual and a gazetteer of the Mughal Empire, detailing its governance, statistics, and culture. Statement-wise Analysis: - Statement 1 is Correct: The Ain-i Akbari was authored by Abu’l Fazl, the court historian and a close confidant of Emperor Akbar. He worked on the Akbarnama for thirteen years. - Statement 2 is Incorrect: The text was not completed in the first regnal year. The Akbarnama records events up to the 46th regnal year (1602). The Ain-i Akbari itself was completed in the 42nd regnal year (approximately 1598 CE) after undergoing five revisions. It reflects the mature administrative system established during Akbar's long reign. - Statement 3 is Correct: The text provides meticulous data on crops, yields, prices, wages, and revenues. However, it presents this information primarily from the perspective of the state (a top-down view) to facilitate governance and revenue collection. It details how the agrarian society was organized to serve the imperial structure, rather than providing a view from the peasants' perspective. Key Takeaway: The Ain-i Akbari is a seminal administrative text by Abu’l Fazl, completed late in Akbar's reign (42nd year), which codifies the Mughal state's regulations and offers a statistical account of the empire's agrarian and economic systems.

NCERT Class 12 History — Chapter 4: Peasants, Zamindars and the State - Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (c. 16th - 17th centuries)

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Consider the following statements regarding the Ain-i Akbari:

It was authored by Akbar’s court historian Abu’l Fazl.
It was completed in the first regnal year of the emperor.
It presents a view of the agrarian society from the perspective of the state.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A1 and 2 only
B2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is

1 and 3 only

Explanation

The Ain-i Akbari is the third volume of the Akbarnama, a monumental historical project commissioned by Emperor Akbar. It serves as an administrative manual and a gazetteer of the Mughal Empire, detailing its governance, statistics, and culture.

Statement-wise Analysis:

Statement 1 is Correct: The Ain-i Akbari was authored by Abu’l Fazl, the court historian and a close confidant of Emperor Akbar. He worked on the Akbarnama for thirteen years.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The text was not completed in the first regnal year. The Akbarnama records events up to the 46th regnal year (1602). The Ain-i Akbari itself was completed in the 42nd regnal year (approximately 1598 CE) after undergoing five revisions. It reflects the mature administrative system established during Akbar's long reign.
Statement 3 is Correct: The text provides meticulous data on crops, yields, prices, wages, and revenues. However, it presents this information primarily from the perspective of the state (a top-down view) to facilitate governance and revenue collection. It details how the agrarian society was organized to serve the imperial structure, rather than providing a view from the peasants' perspective.

Key Takeaway:
The Ain-i Akbari is a seminal administrative text by Abu’l Fazl, completed late in Akbar's reign (42nd year), which codifies the Mughal state's regulations and offers a statistical account of the empire's agrarian and economic systems.

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The correct option is

1 and 3 only

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis:

Statement 1 is Correct: The Ain-i Akbari was authored by Abu’l Fazl, the court historian and a close confidant of Emperor Akbar. He worked on the Akbarnama for thirteen years.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The text was not completed in the first regnal year. The Akbarnama records events up to the 46th regnal year (1602). The Ain-i Akbari itself was completed in the 42nd regnal year (approximately 1598 CE) after undergoing five revisions. It reflects the mature administrative system established during Akbar's long reign.
Statement 3 is Correct: The text provides meticulous data on crops, yields, prices, wages, and revenues. However, it presents this information primarily from the perspective of the state (a top-down view) to facilitate governance and revenue collection. It details how the agrarian society was organized to serve the imperial structure, rather than providing a view from the peasants' perspective.