Question

The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was enacted to suppress Indian- language newspapers. Who repealed it ?

• A. Lord Curzon in 1905
• B. Lord Ripon in 1881
• C. Lord Lytton in 1880
• D. Lord Dufferin in 1888

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Lord Ripon in 1881

• The Vernacular Press Act, officially known as the Vernacular Press Act, 1878 (Act IX of 1878), was passed by Lord Lytton to curb the growing criticism of British policies in regional language publications.

• The act empowered district magistrates to demand security deposits from printers and publishers of vernacular newspapers or seize their presses if they published 'seditious' material.

• Due to its discriminatory nature, the act was infamously referred to as the 'Gagging Act'.

• The act was repealed in 1881 by Lord Ripon, who is widely regarded as the 'Father of Local Self-Government' in India and known for his liberal policies.