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.