Modern History · Chapter 9 of 52

Development of Press in Modern India: BPSC Prelims PYQs

14 previous-year questions on Development of Press in Modern India, asked 1994–2024. Each one opens to its answer and explanation.

1. 1. 56th–59th BPSC Prelims 2014

   To control the media in India, ‘Acts’ were passed in –

   1. A1835, 1867, 1878, 1908
   2. B1854, 1864, 1872, 1910
   3. C1854, 1872, 1908, 1910
   4. D1867, 1908, 1910, 1919
   Answer and explanation →

2. 2. 39th BPSC Prelims 1994

   Who among the following repealed the Vernacular Press Act of 1878?

   1. ALord Ripon
   2. BLord Lytton
   3. CLord Curzon
   4. DLord Minto
   Answer and explanation →

3. 3. 69th BPSC Prelims 2023

   Which of the following statements about the Vernacular Press Act is/are correct?

   • 1. It was enacted by Lord Lytton.
   • 2. It came to be known as a ‘Gagging Act’.
   • 3. The Act was repealed by Lord Ripon.

   Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

   1. AOnly 1 and 2
   2. BOnly 2 and 3
   3. COnly 1
   4. D1, 2 and 3
   Answer and explanation →

4. 4. BPSC TRE-3 (Jul 2024)

   The Vernacular Press Act imposed severe restrictions on the freedom of Indian language newspapers. In which year was it passed?

   1. A1878
   2. B1885
   3. C1880
   4. DMore than one of the above
   5. ENone of the above
   Answer and explanation →

5. 5. 47th BPSC Prelims 2005

   Which of the following papers was essentially the mouthpiece of the policies of the Liberals?

   1. ANew India
   2. BLeader
   3. CYoung India
   4. DFree Press Journal
   Answer and explanation →

6. 6. 64th BPSC Prelims 2018

   Which of the following was not a ‘nationalist’ newspaper?

   1. AThe Hindu
   2. BBengalee
   3. CThe Mahratta
   4. DThe Times of India
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

7. 7. BPSC TRE-3 (Jul 2024)

   Who founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal?

   1. ASir William Bentinck
   2. BSir James Tod
   3. CSir William Jones
   4. DMore than one of the above
   5. ENone of the above
   Answer and explanation →

8. 8. BPSC TRE-2 (Dec 2023)

   Who started the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784?

   1. AMax Muller
   2. BCharles William
   3. CWilliam Jones
   4. DMore than one of the above
   5. ENone of the above
   Answer and explanation →

9. 9. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

   Who first brought the printing press to India in the mid-sixteenth century?

   1. ADutch textile merchant
   2. BBritish merchant
   3. CPortuguese missionary
   4. DArabic manuscript writer
   Answer and explanation →

10. 10. BPSC TRE-2 (Dec 2023)

    The nationalist daily newspaper, The Indian Nation started its publication in

    1. A1930
    2. B1931
    3. C1940
    4. DMore than one of the above
    5. ENone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

11. 11. 39th BPSC Prelims 1994

    Who in America started to issue the newspaper ‘The Free Hindustan’?

    1. ARam Nath Puri
    2. BG.D. Kumar
    3. CLala Hardayal
    4. DTarak Nath Das
    Answer and explanation →

12. 12. 70th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2024

    Which newspaper wrote the following about the possible future role of the Indian National Congress: ‘... is the nucleus of a future Parliament of our country... and will lead to the good of inconceivable magnitude for our countrymen’?

    1. AThe Indian Mirror
    2. BThe New York Times
    3. CThe Times of India
    4. DMore than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

13. 13. 64th BPSC Prelims 2018

    From the options given below, find the correct combination of the names of editors of the nationalist newspapers The Hindu, Kesari, Bengalee, Hindustani, Sudharak:

    1. ASurendra Nath Banerjee, G. Subramania Iyer, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Ganga Prasad Verma, Gopal Krishna Gokhale
    2. BBal Gangadhar Tilak, G. Subramania Iyer, Surendra Nath Banerjee, Ganga Prasad Verma, Gopal Krishna Gokhale
    3. CG. Subramania Iyer, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Ganga Prasad Verma, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Surendra Nath Banerjee
    4. DG. Subramania Iyer, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Surendra Nath Banerjee, Ganga Prasad Verma, Gopal Krishna Gokhale
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

14. 14. 70th BPSC Prelims 2024

    Match the following and choose the correct answer:

    Newspaper	Editor
    I. Free Hindustan	A. Mahatma Gandhi
    II. Indian Opinion	B. Dadabhai Naoroji
    III. Voice of India	C. Surendranath Banerjee
    IV. Bengalee	D. Taraknath Das

    1. AC D A B
    2. BD A B C
    3. CC A D B
    4. DD C B A
    Answer and explanation →