The repressive Vernacular Press Act of 1878, designed to curtail the freedom of the Indian-language press, was enacted during the viceroyalty of:

💡 Solution & Explanation

Lord Lytton enacted the Vernacular Press Act in 1878 to suppress seditious opinions and critical coverage of colonial policies in native-language newspapers. The law empowered district magistrates to demand security deposits and confiscate printing equipment without trial, earning it the moniker of the Gagging Act. Lord Ripon subsequently repealed this repressive legislation in 1881.