In which year was the Vernacular Press Act passed in India?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. 1878.
The Vernacular Press Act was passed in 1878 during the British rule in India. Introduced by Lord Lytton, the Act aimed to suppress nationalist and anti-British sentiments expressed in regional or vernacular languages. It gave the government the power to censor and control the publication of newspapers in Indian languages by imposing heavy fines and imprisonments on editors, publishers, and printers of offending publications. This act led to widespread protests and played a significant role in the rise of the Indian freedom movement against British colonial rule.