Consider the following statements regarding the Akbar Nama: 1. It contains a detailed account of Akbar’s political and personal life. 2. It was a low-cost project intended for mass distribution among the common public. 3. The paintings strictly avoided depicting Hindu mythologies or Persian themes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Option The correct option is 1 only Explanation The Akbar Nama (Book of Akbar) is the official chronicle of the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. It was commissioned by the Emperor and authored by his court historian, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, in Persian. It serves as a primary source for the history of Akbar's reign and is renowned for its exquisite miniature illustrations. Statement-wise Analysis - Statement 1 is Correct: The Akbar Nama provides an extensive and detailed account of Akbar’s life, including his genealogy (tracing back to Timur), his birth, and the political and military events of his reign. It is divided into three books: the first two cover history and biography, while the third, the Ain-i-Akbari, details the administration, statistics, and regulations of the empire. - Statement 2 is Incorrect: The production of the Akbar Nama was a high-cost, state-sponsored project carried out in the imperial kitab-khana (workshop). It involved the use of expensive materials such as gold leaf, fine paper, and precious pigments (e.g., lapis lazuli). These manuscripts were luxury items intended for the Emperor and the royal court, not for mass distribution among the common public. - Statement 3 is Incorrect: The paintings in the Akbar Nama reflect the Mughal style, which is a synthesis of Persian (Safavid) and Indian artistic traditions. The atelier employed both Persian masters (like Abd al-Samad) and Indian artists (like Basawan and Daswanth). The artwork did not avoid Persian themes; rather, it heavily relied on Persian artistic conventions while integrating Indian aesthetics. Additionally, Akbar’s atelier actively illustrated Hindu epics (such as the Razmnama), proving there was no strict avoidance of Hindu themes in the broader artistic milieu. Key Takeaway Key Takeaway: The Akbar Nama is a monumental Persian chronicle by Abu'l-Fazl that documents Akbar's reign and administration (Ain-i-Akbari). It is celebrated for its synthesis of Persian and Indian artistic styles in its miniature paintings and was an exclusive imperial manuscript.

NCERT Class 12 Art & Culture — Chapter 3: The Mughal School of Miniature Painting

mcqmedium

Consider the following statements regarding the Akbar Nama:

It contains a detailed account of Akbar’s political and personal life.
It was a low-cost project intended for mass distribution among the common public.
The paintings strictly avoided depicting Hindu mythologies or Persian themes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A1 and 3 only
B1, 2 and 3
C1 only
D2 only

Did you get this right?

Solution

Correct Option

The correct option is

1 only

Explanation

The Akbar Nama (Book of Akbar) is the official chronicle of the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. It was commissioned by the Emperor and authored by his court historian, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, in Persian. It serves as a primary source for the history of Akbar's reign and is renowned for its exquisite miniature illustrations.

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Correct: The Akbar Nama provides an extensive and detailed account of Akbar’s life, including his genealogy (tracing back to Timur), his birth, and the political and military events of his reign. It is divided into three books: the first two cover history and biography, while the third, the Ain-i-Akbari, details the administration, statistics, and regulations of the empire.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The production of the Akbar Nama was a high-cost, state-sponsored project carried out in the imperial kitab-khana (workshop). It involved the use of expensive materials such as gold leaf, fine paper, and precious pigments (e.g., lapis lazuli). These manuscripts were luxury items intended for the Emperor and the royal court, not for mass distribution among the common public.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: The paintings in the Akbar Nama reflect the Mughal style, which is a synthesis of Persian (Safavid) and Indian artistic traditions. The atelier employed both Persian masters (like Abd al-Samad) and Indian artists (like Basawan and Daswanth). The artwork did not avoid Persian themes; rather, it heavily relied on Persian artistic conventions while integrating Indian aesthetics. Additionally, Akbar’s atelier actively illustrated Hindu epics (such as the Razmnama), proving there was no strict avoidance of Hindu themes in the broader artistic milieu.

Key Takeaway

Key Takeaway: The Akbar Nama is a monumental Persian chronicle by Abu'l-Fazl that documents Akbar's reign and administration (Ain-i-Akbari). It is celebrated for its synthesis of Persian and Indian artistic styles in its miniature paintings and was an exclusive imperial manuscript.

Your note

More from Chapter 3: The Mughal School of Miniature Painting

Consider the following pairs of Pigments and their Sources used in Mughal painting: 1. Vermilion : Cinnabar 2. Ultramarine : Lapis Lazuli 3. Bright Yellow : Orpiment 4. Black : Charcoal How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

medium

With reference to the pre-Mughal and indigenous schools of painting in India, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike the Mughal style, the indigenous style emphasized a flat perspective and bold modelling of figures. 2. The indigenous style was completely replaced by the Mughal style due to the latter's optical reality and finesse. 3. The Mughal style introduced three-dimensional figure portrayal which was absent in the parallel indigenous schools. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Consider the following statements regarding the illustrated manuscript Hamza Nama: 1. It was a project conceived and completed entirely during the reign of Emperor Babur. 2. The paintings were executed directly on cloth rather than on paper. 3. The project was completed under the supervision of the Persian masters Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd us Samad. Which of the statements given above are correct?

hard

With reference to the artistic developments under Emperor Jahangir, consider the following statements: 1. His atelier preferred mass production of manuscripts over individual high-quality artworks. 2. The practice of creating Muraqqas became popular under his patronage. 3. He employed the artist Basawan to achieve sophistication in painting. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

With reference to the painting Noah’s Ark from the Diwan-i Hafiz, consider the following statements: 1. It is ascribed to the artist Daswant. 2. It depicts the sons of Noah throwing Iblis out of the ark. 3. It is characterized by a vertical perspective that infuses the painting with dramatic energy. Which of the statements given above are correct?

medium

Keep practising Chapter 3: The Mughal School of Miniature Painting

Work through every question from this NCERT chapter.

Browse all NCERT Class 12 Art & Culture chapters

Correct Option

The correct option is

1 only

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Correct: The Akbar Nama provides an extensive and detailed account of Akbar’s life, including his genealogy (tracing back to Timur), his birth, and the political and military events of his reign. It is divided into three books: the first two cover history and biography, while the third, the Ain-i-Akbari, details the administration, statistics, and regulations of the empire.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The production of the Akbar Nama was a high-cost, state-sponsored project carried out in the imperial kitab-khana (workshop). It involved the use of expensive materials such as gold leaf, fine paper, and precious pigments (e.g., lapis lazuli). These manuscripts were luxury items intended for the Emperor and the royal court, not for mass distribution among the common public.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: The paintings in the Akbar Nama reflect the Mughal style, which is a synthesis of Persian (Safavid) and Indian artistic traditions. The atelier employed both Persian masters (like Abd al-Samad) and Indian artists (like Basawan and Daswanth). The artwork did not avoid Persian themes; rather, it heavily relied on Persian artistic conventions while integrating Indian aesthetics. Additionally, Akbar’s atelier actively illustrated Hindu epics (such as the Razmnama), proving there was no strict avoidance of Hindu themes in the broader artistic milieu.