PRACTICE QUESTIONS UGC NET (HISTORY)
The Printing Press
UGC NET HISTORY (UNIT 8)
1. Who among the following founded the newspaper The Bengal Gazette or Calcutta General Advertiser in 1780?
A- Raja Ram Mohan Roy
B- James Silk Buckingham
C- Charles Metcalfe
D- James Augustus Hickey
2. The primary objective behind the Censorship of Press Act of 1799 was to
A- regulate missionary publications
B- prevent the French from publishing criticism against the British
C- encourage vernacular journalism
D- abolish pre-censorship of newspapers
3. Match List I with List II regarding early newspapers in colonial India.
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| (a) Calcutta Journal | (i) James Augustus Hickey |
| (b) Bengal Gazette | (ii) Raja Ram Mohan Roy |
| (c) Mirat-ul-Akhbar | (iii) James Silk Buckingham |
| (d) Bombay Herald | (iv) Bombay Presidency newspaper |
A- (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)
4. Which Governor-General relaxed press restrictions in 1818 after the stringent regulations of Wellesley?
A- Lord Cornwallis
B- Francis Hastings
C- Lord Amherst
D- Lord Canning
5. The Licensing Regulations of 1823 were introduced by
A- Lord William Bentinck
B- Charles Metcalfe
C- John Adams
D- Lord Lytton
6. Which of the following journals was discontinued by Raja Ram Mohan Roy due to the Licensing Regulations of 1823?
A- Sambad Kaumudi
B- Bengal Gazette
C- Calcutta Journal
D- Mirat-ul-Akhbar
7. Assertion (A): Raja Ram Mohan Roy opposed the Licensing Regulations of 1823.
Reason (R): The Regulations particularly targeted Indian-language newspapers and Indian editors.
A- Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B- Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C- (A) is true but (R) is false.
D- (A) is false but (R) is true.
8. Which among the following provisions was associated with the Licensing Regulations of 1823?
A- Complete abolition of press restrictions
B- Trial by jury for press offences
C- Mandatory government licence for operating a press
D- State subsidy to vernacular newspapers
9. Match List I with List II regarding colonial press legislations.
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| (a) Censorship of Press Act | (i) 1910 |
| (b) Licensing Regulations | (ii) 1799 |
| (c) Vernacular Press Act | (iii) 1823 |
| (d) Indian Press Act | (iv) 1878 |
A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iii)
10. Charles Metcalfe is remembered in Indian history primarily because he
A- introduced pre-censorship of newspapers
B- passed the Vernacular Press Act
C- suppressed nationalist journalism
D- repealed the restrictive Press Regulations of 1823
11. The Press Act of 1835 is popularly known as
A- Ilbert Act
B- Vernacular Act
C- Metcalfe Act
D- Ripon Resolution
12. Assertion (A): Charles Metcalfe earned the title “Liberator of the Indian Press.”
Reason (R): He restored freedom of the press by repealing the restrictive regulations of 1823.
A- Both (A) and (R) are false.
B- (A) is true but (R) is false.
C- Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
D- Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
13. Which of the following was NOT associated with Sir Charles Metcalfe?
A- Treaty of Amritsar with Ranjit Singh
B- Liberal press policy
C- Opposition to sati and slavery
D- Partition of Bengal
14. The Licensing Act of 1857 was enacted during the tenure of
A- Lord Ripon
B- Lord Curzon
C- Lord Canning
D- Lord Minto II
15. Which among the following correctly describes the Licensing Act of 1857?
A- It abolished government control over books and newspapers.
B- It granted complete freedom to vernacular newspapers.
C- It introduced elected press councils.
D- It empowered the government to stop publication and distribution of printed material.
16. Match List I with List II.
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| (a) Lord Lytton | (i) Repealed Vernacular Press Act |
| (b) Lord Ripon | (ii) Indian Press Act, 1910 |
| (c) Lord Minto II | (iii) Vernacular Press Act |
| (d) Lord Canning | (iv) Licensing Act, 1857 |
A- (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
17. The Registration Act of 1867 made it compulsory for publications to
A- obtain permission from district magistrates before publication
B- print only in English
C- submit articles for pre-censorship
D- mention printer, publisher, and place of publication
18. Which Act replaced the Metcalfe Act of 1835?
A- Vernacular Press Act
B- Indian Press Act
C- Registration Act of 1867
D- Press Emergency Act
19. Assertion (A): The Registration Act of 1867 imposed severe censorship on the Indian press.
Reason (R): The Act mainly focused on registration requirements and preservation of printed copies.
A- Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B- (A) is true but (R) is false.
C- (A) is false but (R) is true.
D- Both (A) and (R) are false.
20. The Vernacular Press Act was passed in
A- 1867
B- 1908
C- 1910
D- 1878
21. The Vernacular Press Act was mainly intended to suppress
A- European-owned newspapers
B- Missionary literature
C- Parliamentary debates in Britain
D- Indian language newspapers critical of colonial rule
22. Which Viceroy introduced the Vernacular Press Act?
A- Lord Ripon
B- Lord Lytton
C- Lord Curzon
D- Lord Hardinge
23. Match List I with List II regarding provisions/features.
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| (a) Magistrate could seize printing press | (i) Registration Act, 1867 |
| (b) Mandatory printing of publisher’s name | (ii) Vernacular Press Act |
| (c) Financial securities from publishers | (iii) Indian Press Act, 1910 |
| (d) Prior censorship during French threat | (iv) Censorship Act, 1799 |
A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(i)
24. Which newspaper converted itself overnight into an English newspaper to escape the Vernacular Press Act?
A- Kesari
B- Yugantar
C- Amrita Bazar Patrika
D- Bande Mataram
25. Assertion (A): The Vernacular Press Act discriminated between English and vernacular newspapers.
Reason (R): English newspapers were largely supportive of colonial policies after 1857.
A- Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B- Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C- (A) is true but (R) is false.
D- (A) is false but (R) is true.
26. Which among the following newspapers was prosecuted under the Vernacular Press Act?
A- The Hindu
B- Bombay Chronicle
C- Kesari
D- Som Prakash
27. The Vernacular Press Act came to be popularly known as the
A- Black Act
B- Charter Act
C- Safety Valve Act
D- Gagging Act
28. Who repealed the Vernacular Press Act?
A- Lord Curzon
B- Lord Canning
C- Lord Ripon
D- Lord Chelmsford
29. Match List I with List II regarding nationalist newspapers.
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| (a) Kesari | (i) Aurobindo Ghosh |
| (b) Bande Mataram | (ii) Bal Gangadhar Tilak |
| (c) Bombay Chronicle | (iii) Sisir Kumar Ghosh |
| (d) Amrita Bazar Patrika | (iv) Pherozeshah Mehta |
A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iv), (d)-(iii)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iv), (d)-(iii)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
30. The Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act of 1908 was enacted mainly in response to
A- Non-Cooperation Movement
B- Revolt of 1857
C- Simon Commission boycott
D- Revolutionary nationalist activities after the Partition of Bengal