Q20. Who is regarded as the first newspaper journalist in India?
[SSC CGL (17 July 2023, Shift 4)]
(A) Dinabandhu Mitra
(B) James Augustus Hicky
(C) Hem Chandrakar
(D) Harish Chandra Mukherjee
Answer: (B) James Augustus Hicky
Explanation: James Augustus Hicky founded the Bengal Gazette in Calcutta in 1780, making him a pioneer of print journalism in India. His newspaper exposed controversies concerning the East India Company establishment and was ultimately suppressed after disputes with colonial authorities.
Q19. Who edited the nationalist newspaper Kesari?
[SSC MTS (17 May 2023)]
(A) Bipin Chandra Pal
(B) Aurobindo Ghosh
(C) Lala Lajpat Rai
(D) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Answer: (D) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak made Kesari a prominent Marathi voice of assertive nationalism. Started in 1881, it carried political commentary and encouraged resistance to colonial policies. He also worked with the English newspaper Mahratta to influence a broader readership.
Q18. Who established the newspaper Rast Goftar?
[OSSC TGT (10 March 2023)]
(A) Chittaranjan Das
(B) Abul Kalam Azad
(C) Dadabhai Naoroji
(D) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
Answer: (C) Dadabhai Naoroji
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji established Rast Goftar in 1851. Through it, he supported social reform among Parsis and fostered discussion of public issues. His later political work, including the drain theory, made him a central figure in early Indian nationalism.
Q17. Who started the Urdu weekly Al-Hilal?
[UKPSC Patwari (12 February 2023)]
(A) Shaukat Ali
(B) Muzaffar Ali
(C) Syed Ahmad Khan
(D) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Answer: (D) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Explanation: Abul Kalam Azad founded Al-Hilal in 1912. Its Urdu writing combined anti-colonial politics with appeals for political awakening and Hindu-Muslim unity. British authorities acted against the journal, illustrating the constraints placed on forceful nationalist writing.
Q16. Which newspaper was associated with Annie Besant?
[JKSSB Sub Inspector (12 December 2022)]
(A) The Hindu
(B) The Indian Express
(C) New India
(D) None of the above
Answer: (C) New India
Explanation: Annie Besant used New India to advocate self-government and criticize colonial restrictions. Alongside her weekly Commonweal, it amplified calls for Home Rule. Her publications demonstrate the important role newspapers played in building political consciousness before Gandhi’s mass movements.
Q15. Which newspaper was published by Annie Besant?
[OSSC Block Social Security Officer (7 November 2022)]
(A) Rast Goftar
(B) Hitavada
(C) New India
(D) Kesari
Answer: (C) New India
Explanation: New India was closely associated with Annie Besant’s campaign for Indian Home Rule. Its editorials pressed for greater self-government and criticized imperial policies. Besant’s use of the press complemented political speeches, conferences and organization of Home Rule leagues.
Q14. From where was the newspaper Rajasthan Kesari initially published?
[RSMSSB Forester (6 November 2022)]
(A) Jodhpur
(B) Sirohi
(C) Wardha
(D) Ajmer
Answer: (C) Wardha
Explanation: Rajasthan Kesari is associated with nationalist efforts to create political awareness about princely-state conditions in Rajasthan. Its publication from Wardha connected Rajasthan’s reformers with wider nationalist networks and enabled discussion of grievances beyond the princely states themselves.
Q13. Which newspaper was launched in 1851 for reform among Parsis?
[RRB Group D (30 August 2022)]
(A) Rast Goftar
(B) Somaprakash
(C) Bombay Herald
(D) Bombay Post
Answer: (A) Rast Goftar
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji founded Rast Goftar in 1851, using the newspaper to advocate reform and reasoned debate within the Parsi community. The publication helped establish a tradition of Indian-owned newspapers addressing social change and public questions in colonial Bombay.
Q12. Consider:
(1) The Indian press did not protest against the Vernacular Press Act;
(2) Lytton introduced the Act despite opposition from a legal member of his council.
Which statement is correct?
[UPSC CAPF AC (7 August 2022)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: The Indian press strongly opposed the discriminatory Act, so statement one is false. The measure was introduced under Lord Lytton despite objections within the colonial establishment, making statement two correct. The controversy intensified demands for freedom of public expression.
Q11. Which Viceroy proposed the Vernacular Press Act?
[RRB NTPC CBT-II (16 June 2022)]
(A) Lord Irwin
(B) Lord Chelmsford
(C) Lord Mountbatten
(D) Lord Lytton
Answer: (D) Lord Lytton
Explanation: Lord Lytton promoted the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 to restrict newspapers written in Indian languages. The legislation was widely denounced as a colonial attempt to silence criticism and was repealed under Lord Ripon in 1882.
