Q. Consider the following statements about Abdul Qadir Badauni's Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh:
  1. Badauni was a close ally of Akbar, supporting his policies
  2. The Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh was published during Akbar's reign
Which of the above observations is/are correct?

Answer: Neither 1 nor 2
Notes: Both the statements are incorrect. Badauni was a severe critic of Akbar's policies, not an ally. His critical stance influenced the way he documented history. Furthermore, The Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh was written in secrecy and only circulated after Akbar's death, indicating it was not published during his reign.