Which of the following viceroyalties witnessed the passage of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878, which sought to impose rigorous censorship on Indian-language newspapers?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Lord Lytton enacted the Vernacular Press Act in 1878 to suppress nationalist criticism of colonial policies in native-language newspapers, empowering district magistrates to demand security bonds and confiscate printing presses. Lord Ripon repealed this controversial legislation in 1882, restoring freedom to the vernacular press. Lord Lytton's tenure was also marked by the expensive Second Anglo-Afghan War and the devastating famine of 1876-78.