Question

The Press and Registration of Books Act was enacted in which year ?

• A. 1860
• B. 1867
• C. 1923
• D. 1952

Answer 1

Answer:

B. 1867

• The Press and Registration of Books Act was enacted in 1867 during the British colonial period in India.
• The primary objective of the legislation was to regulate printing presses and newspapers and to ensure the preservation of copies of books and other printed matter published in British India.
• Under this Act, it became mandatory for every book and newspaper printed in India to bear the name of the printer and the place of publication.
• The law required that a copy of every book published in the country be delivered to the government to ensure the maintenance of official records and to track intellectual output.
• This legislation remains a significant historical reference point for understanding the British administration's control over the press, often viewed as a precursor to subsequent repressive measures like the Vernacular Press Act of 1878.
• The administration of this Act is currently handled by the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI), which operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
• In modern contexts, the Act continues to be the statutory framework governing the registration of newspapers and periodicals in India.