The Vernacular Press Act, 1878 was passed by:

The text appears to discuss the Vernacular Press Act, which was promoted by Lord Lytton in his role as Viceroy of India. British policy in India faced increased opposition, particularly in response to the Second Afghan War and a famine in 1876-78, and so Lytton sought to restrict the Indian language press in India. On 14th March 1878, the Vernacular Press Act was unanimously passed by the Viceroy’s Council. The Act gave the British colonial government the power to censor Indian language newspapers if they were considered to promote “disaffection” with British rule in India, but English language newspapers were excluded, demonstrating the particular focus of the Vernacular Press Act on the Indian language press.