SSC GD 2025 PYQ — Question 37

SSC GD Const 2025 (English) - 20 Feb 2025 - Shift 2 • General Awareness • Q37

In which year was the Indian Press Act, a law that granted the government extensive powers to control the press in India, passed?

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. 1910.

The Indian Press Act was passed in 1910 by the British Government to curb the growing influence of Indian newspapers and nationalist writings that criticized colonial rule.

The Act empowered the government to seize or suppress publications deemed seditious or anti-British. It required publishers to deposit security and allowed authorities to confiscate printed materials without trial. This law came after the rise of revolutionary movements and the spread of nationalist ideas through the press.

Newspapers like Kesari, Bande Mataram, and Jugantar were targeted under this Act. The Indian Press Act of 1910 remained a key tool of colonial censorship until it was repealed after independence, marking an important chapter in India’s struggle for freedom of expression.