Question

'Gagging Act' is called:

• A. Vernacular Press Act, 1878
• B. Licencing Act, 1857
• C. The News Paper Act, 1908
• D. Registration Act, 1867

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Vernacular Press Act, 1878

• The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 is popularly known as the 'Gagging Act'.

• It was enacted by the British colonial government under Lord Lytton to suppress the vernacular press, particularly in Indian languages.

• The Act empowered the government to censor and restrict the publication of newspapers in Indian languages if they were deemed to be seditious or critical of British rule.]

• This law was targeted at stifling dissent and curbing the spread of nationalist ideas that were gaining ground in India.

• The Act was met with widespread opposition, and it was eventually repealed in 1882 by Lord Ripon.