Who was responsible for the introduction of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 ?

The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was introduced by Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880 [c1][t3]. The Act was designed to 'better control' the Indian-language press and repress seditious writing that criticized Lytton's imperialistic policies, particularly his handling of the Great Famine of 1876-77 and the lavish expenditure on the Delhi Durbar [c1][c4]. Modelled on the Irish Press Laws, it empowered the government to censor reports and confiscate printing machinery if warnings were ignored [c2][t8]. While Lord Lytton enacted this 'Gagging Act' to suppress nationalist awakening, it was later repealed in 1882 by his successor, Lord Ripon [c3][c5]. The Act specifically targeted vernacular publications while exempting English-language newspapers, leading to widespread nationalist protest [t3][t9].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 29: Development of Indian Press > 560 ✫ A Brief History of Modern India > p. 560
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 29: Development of Indian Press > Development of Indian Press ✫ 559 > p. 559
3. [3] India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World > 9 Print and Censorship > p. 127
4. [4] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vernacular-Press-Act
5. [5] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > 7. Lord Ripon 1880-1884 > p. 819
6. [6] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 27: Survey of British Policies in India > Restrictions on Freedom of the Press > p. 535