Question

Which of the following was a key feature of media during the colonial period ?

• A. Complete press freedom
• B. Strict censorship and press regulations
• C. Absence of political content
• D. Focus only on entertainment

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Strict censorship and press regulations

• Media during the Colonial Period: During British rule in India, the press played a crucial role in spreading national consciousness and critiquing colonial policies. To suppress this growing nationalism, the British administration imposed severe censorship laws, registration rules, and press regulations.

• Key Colonial Press Acts:

  • Censorship of Press Act (1799): Introduced by Lord Wellesley, requiring pre-censorship of newspapers.

  • Licensing Regulations (1823): Made starting a press without a license a penal offense (used against Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s Mirat-ul-Akbar).

  • Vernacular Press Act (1878): Passed by Lord Lytton, specifically aimed at gagging Indian-language (vernacular) newspapers to prevent seditious writing against the Empire.

  • Indian Press Act (1910): Empowered local governments to demand security deposits from presses publishing objectionable matter.