Lord Lytton and Vernacular Press Act | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

Aftermath of the 1857 Revolt

• After the 1857 Revolt, the British Crown took direct control over ruling India.
• Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India in 1858.
• The change in Indian administration was marked by the Government of India Act of 1858 and the Queen’s Proclamation of the same year.
• The Queen’s Proclamation served as the foundation for British policy in India for over 60 years.

Lord Lytton (1876 – 1880)

• Lord Lytton served as the Viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880.
• He introduced several administrative changes intended to benefit Britain, which led to dissatisfaction among Indians.
• During his tenure, the Famine of 1876–1878 occurred.
• The Second Anglo-Afghan War took place from 1878 to 1880.
• The Vernacular Press Act and the Indian Arms Act were both enacted in 1878.

Famine of 1876–1878

• The famine resulted from the failure of two consecutive monsoons.
• The regions most affected included Madras, Mysore, Hyderabad, Bombay, Central India, and the Punjab.
• The famine caused the deaths of five million people within a year.
• Cholera and fever further worsened the suffering.
• Lord Lytton’s government struggled to address the crisis effectively.
• Many villages were depopulated, and large areas of land remained uncultivated.
• During this period, Lytton imposed a custom duty on textile goods exported to England.
• He also held an extravagant Durbar in Delhi in 1877, where Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India, costing millions of rupees.
• The first Famine Commission (1878–1880) was established under Sir Richard Strachey to address the issue.

The Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80)

• The British were concerned about Russia's growing influence in Afghanistan and feared a potential Russian invasion of India.
• To prevent Russian expansion, Lord Lytton sought to establish complete British control over Afghanistan.
• In 1878, British troops were sent to attack Afghanistan.
• The Afghan ruler, Amir Sher Ali, fled to Russia, and the British signed a treaty with his successor.
• This war was deemed unnecessary, especially when the Indian economy was struggling.

Vernacular Press Act 1878

• Indian newspapers, sympathetic to the people's grievances, criticized Lytton's policies and British rule.
• To curb this, Lytton enacted the Vernacular Press Act in 1878, restricting the freedom of the Indian press.
• The Act imposed strict censorship on vernacular newspapers and periodicals.
• It allowed a Magistrate to obtain an assurance from editors, publishers, and printers that they would not publish anything against the British Government.
• Press equipment could be seized if violations occurred.
• This Act severely limited press freedom and generated negative public opinion towards the British Government.

The Indian Arms Act 1878

• Lord Lytton’s government enacted the Indian Arms Act in 1878.
• The Act required Indians to obtain a license to keep, sell, or purchase arms.
• Offenders faced both fines and imprisonment.
• However, English, Anglo-Indians, and certain government officials were exempt from this Act.
• Overall, most of Lord Lytton’s administrative measures were detrimental to Indian interests.