The Widow Remarriage Act was passed by Lord Canning in 1856. This act was a significant step towards women empowerment and social reform in India.

Details of the Widow Remarriage Act:

• The act allowed Hindu widows to remarry, which was previously considered a taboo in the society.

• The act also declared the children born out of such remarriages as legitimate.

• It gave women the right to inherit property from their deceased husbands.

• The act was aimed at improving the status of widows in Indian society and abolishing the practice of Sati, which was prevalent at that time.

• The act was a result of the efforts of social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, who fought against the rigid social norms of the time.

Significance of the Widow Remarriage Act:

• The act was a major step towards women empowerment and gender equality in India.

• It challenged the patriarchal mindset of the society, which considered widows as social outcasts.

• The act paved the way for further social reforms and legislations aimed at improving the status of women in India.

• The act was a progressive step towards modernization and secularization of Indian society.

In conclusion, the Widow Remarriage Act passed by Lord Canning in 1856 was a significant milestone in the history of social reform in India. It challenged the regressive social norms of the time and paved the way for women empowerment and gender equality in the country.

Answer 'b' because
the hindu widows remarriage act 1856, also act xv 1856, enacted on 26 july 1856, legalised the remarriage of hindu widows in all jurisdictions of india under east india company rule it was drafted by lord dalhousie and passed by lord canning before the indian rebellion of 1857 .it was the first major social reform legislation after the abolition of sati by lord william bentinck