CAPF AC 2022 Q101: Modern History – Early Nationalism & Indian National Congress (1885 - 1915)
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
Vernacular Press Act, 1878
How to think: the Act was Lord Lytton's attempt to gag Indian-language newspapers.
Ask two things: did the press stay quiet, and how was the Act passed?
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Indian press failed to protest | Wrong | There was a storm of protest; public meetings were held in Calcutta and the Act was nicknamed the Gagging Act |
| 2. Lytton introduced it against the counsel of his own Law Member | Correct | The measure was rushed through the Council in a single sitting despite opposition from within the government |
What the Act did: magistrates could make a printer sign a bond and deposit security, which could be forfeited.
There was no appeal to a court.
It applied only to Indian-language papers, not English ones.
Famous escape: the Amrita Bazar Patrika turned into an English paper overnight.
The end: Lord Ripon repealed the Act in 1882.
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false; the Indian press protested strongly.
- (b) CORRECT. Only statement 2 is accepted as true.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false, so both cannot be right.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2 is accepted as true.
Key point
Vernacular Press Act, 1878: Lord Lytton; aimed at Indian-language papers; no appeal; called the Gagging Act; Amrita Bazar Patrika became English; repealed by Lord Ripon in 1882. Same year: Arms Act, 1878.
Remember
1878: Lytton's Gagging Act; 1882: Ripon repealed it.
Common mistakes
- Believing the press quietly accepted the Act.
- Crediting the repeal to Lytton instead of Ripon.
- Forgetting that the Act spared English-language newspapers.
Exam tip
Educated guess: Indian newspapers were the main voice of early nationalism, so a claim that they failed to protest against their own gagging is very unlikely. That leaves (b) or (d).
Sources
- Bipan Chandra, India's Struggle for Independence — The Fight to Secure Press Freedom
- NCERT Class X History — India and the Contemporary World II, Chapter: Print Culture and the Modern World (print and censorship)