Question

Vernacular Press Act was major hurdle in the development of Indian Journalism.why?

Answer 1

In British India, the Vernacular Press Act (Act of 1878) was enacted to curtail the freedom of the Indian press and prevent the expression of criticism toward British policies—notably, the opposition that had grown with the outset of the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–80).[1]The act was proposed by Lord Lytton, then Viceroy of India, and was unanimously passed by the Viceroy's Council on 14 March 1878. The act excluded English-language publications as it was meant to control seditious writing in 'publications in Oriental languages' everywhere in the country, except for the South.But the British totally discriminated the Indian Press.

The act empowered the government to impose restrictions on the press in the following ways:

1.) Modelled on the Irish press act, this act provided the government with extensive rights to censor reports and editorials in the Vernacular press.

2.) From now on the government kept regular track of Vernacular newspapers.

3.) When a report published in the newspaper was judged as seditious, the newspaper was warned.

4.)No Indian was allowed to carry arms without license

Answer 2

Vernacular Press Act was major hurdle in the development of Indian Journalism because the Indians did not have the right to publish newspapers or journals in the local or public languages about any British policies which could bring trouble to the British government.