Q70. Which English newspaper associated with Sri Aurobindo helped prepare public opinion for a nationalist revolution?
[OSSC CGLRE Mains, GS Paper II (8 July 2026)]
(A) Kesari
(B) Bande Mataram
(C) Hindu Patriot
(D) Bombay Chronicle
Answer: (B) Bande Mataram
Explanation: Bande Mataram was founded by Bipin Chandra Pal in Calcutta in 1906. Sri Aurobindo subsequently became its principal editorial voice. Its English articles advocated nationalism, boycott and self-rule, influencing educated readers during the Swadeshi phase of the freedom struggle.
Q69. What was the principal object of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I (13 June 2026, Shift 3)]
(A) To encourage regional newspapers supporting the Raj
(B) To promote bilingual colonial journalism
(C) To curb criticism of British rule in Indian-language newspapers
(D) To abolish censorship of Indian-language newspapers
Answer: (C) To curb criticism of British rule in Indian-language newspapers
Explanation: The Vernacular Press Act targeted publications in Indian languages rather than the English press. Enacted under Lord Lytton in 1878, it empowered colonial officials to demand bonds and suppress material critical of the government. Lord Ripon later repealed it in 1882.
Q68. Who was the editor of the Hindi newspaper Karmveer?
[MP Forest Guard / Jail Prahari, memory-based (4 June 2026, Shift 1)]
(A) Subhadra Kumari Chauhan
(B) Harishankar Parsai
(C) Bhawani Prasad Mishra
(D) Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi
Answer: (D) Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi
Explanation: Makhanlal Chaturvedi was a prominent nationalist journalist, poet and freedom fighter. Through Karmveer, he promoted patriotism and opposed colonial domination. His journalism connected literary expression with political mobilization, especially among Hindi-speaking readers in central India.
Q67. Which colonial law sought to silence newspapers critical of the British government?
[SSC GD Constable (31 May 2026, Shift 1)]
(A) Vernacular Press Act, 1878
(B) Vernacular Press Act, 1858
(C) Charter Act, 1833
(D) Charter Act, 1813
Answer: (A) Vernacular Press Act, 1878
Explanation: The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 is remembered as the Gagging Act. It restricted Indian-language newspapers publishing criticism of colonial rule. English-language publications were exempt, demonstrating the unequal treatment that helped turn freedom of the press into a nationalist issue.
Q66. Which of these periodicals was published by Mahatma Gandhi?
[UP PGT Sociology (9 May 2026)]
(A) Aaj (1920)
(B) Yugantar (1906)
(C) Bahishkrit Bharat (1927)
(D) Indian Opinion (1903)
Answer: (D) Indian Opinion (1903)
Explanation: Gandhi established Indian Opinion in South Africa in 1903 as a means of communicating the grievances of Indians and promoting nonviolent resistance. The publication became an early laboratory for his ideas on satyagraha, civic organization and responsible political journalism.
Q65. Which newspaper was used by Bal Gangadhar Tilak to spread assertive nationalism?
[DSSSB MTS (18 April 2026, Shift 1)]
(A) Kesari
(B) Indian Opinion
(C) The Tribune
(D) Awaz-e-Hind
Answer: (A) Kesari
Explanation: Tilak used the Marathi newspaper Kesari to popularize self-rule and criticism of British policies. He also edited the English-language Mahratta. His journalism helped mobilize public opinion, although the government prosecuted him for allegedly seditious writings.
Q64. Who was the only Indian member present when the Vernacular Press Bill was introduced in the Legislative Council?
[UPSC CDS I (12 April 2026)]
(A) Jotendra Mohan Tagore
(B) Peary Mohan Mukherjea
(C) Dinshaw Petit
(D) Dadabhai Naoroji
Answer: (A) Jotendra Mohan Tagore
Explanation: Jotendra Mohan Tagore was the Indian member associated with the council proceedings over the 1878 Vernacular Press Bill. The legislation was pushed through under Lytton and drew criticism for targeting Indian-language publications and curtailing political expression.
Q63. Which nationalist newspaper was founded by Bipin Chandra Pal?
[DSSSB MTS (6 March 2026, Shift 2)]
(A) Jai Hind
(B) Indian Mirror
(C) Bande Mataram
(D) Independent
Answer: (C) Bande Mataram
Explanation: Bipin Chandra Pal founded the English newspaper Bande Mataram in Calcutta in 1906. Sri Aurobindo later became a leading editor. The paper articulated radical nationalist ideas and became especially influential during resistance to the partition of Bengal.
Q62. Which English newspaper was associated with Sir Pherozeshah Mehta?
[DSSSB MTS (27 February 2026, Shift 1)]
(A) The Leader
(B) Indian Opinion
(C) The Hindu
(D) Bombay Chronicle
Answer: (D) Bombay Chronicle
Explanation: The Bombay Chronicle was associated with Pherozeshah Mehta and later gained prominence under editor B. G. Horniman. It supported Indian nationalist politics and provided a counterweight to pro-government newspapers in Bombay. It became influential in public debates over colonial rule.
Q61. What was the headquarters of the Ghadar Party called?
[RRB JE, 2025 cycle (20 February 2026, Shift 2)]
(A) Bharat Ashram
(B) Hindustan Ashram
(C) Yugantar Ashram
(D) Azad Ashram
Answer: (C) Yugantar Ashram
Explanation: Yugantar Ashram in San Francisco served as a base of the Ghadar movement and its printing activities. The revolutionary paper Ghadar circulated anti-colonial messages among Indian emigrants, showing how print networks outside India contributed to the independence movement.
Q60. Which work did Bal Gangadhar Tilak compose during his Mandalay imprisonment following a sedition case involving Kesari?
[DSSSB PRT (18 February 2026, Shift 3)]
(A) Gita-Sar
(B) Gita-Darshan
(C) Gita-Rahasya
(D) Gita-Gyan
Answer: (C) Gita-Rahasya
Explanation: Tilak wrote Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Rahasya while imprisoned in Mandalay between 1908 and 1914. His prosecution arose from colonial sedition charges connected with his newspaper writings. The book interpreted the Gita with special emphasis on action and duty.
Q59. Who wrote Hind Swaraj in 1909?
[SSC MTS, 2025 cycle (6 February 2026, Shift 2)]
(A) Rabindranath Tagore
(B) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(D) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: (D) Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi wrote Hind Swaraj in 1909 while travelling between London and South Africa. Its Gujarati text first appeared in Indian Opinion. The work critiqued modern civilization and argued for swaraj grounded in self-discipline, ethics and nonviolent social transformation.
Q58. On which date is Hindi Journalism Day observed?
[RRB Group D (4 February 2026, Shift 1)]
(A) 9 April
(B) 18 February
(C) 5 May
(D) 30 May
Answer: (D) 30 May
Explanation: Hindi Journalism Day marks 30 May 1826, when Jugal Kishore Shukla launched Udant Martand from Calcutta. The weekly is widely recognized as the first Hindi newspaper. Its history reflects the early difficulties of sustaining an Indian-language newspaper under colonial conditions.
Q57. Mahesh Narayan was the first editor of which newspaper?
[Bihar Police SI, memory-based (18 January 2026, Shift 1)]
(A) Bihar Times
(B) Bihar Herald
(C) Pioneer
(D) More than one of the above
Answer: (A) Bihar Times
Explanation: Mahesh Narayan is associated with Bihar Times, an important publication in the emergence of a distinct political and regional consciousness in Bihar. Newspapers such as this helped educated readers debate administration, public representation and the province’s place within British India.
Q56. Who is often called the Liberator of the Indian Press?
[MP Police SI (17 January 2026, Shift 2)]
(A) Sir Charles Metcalfe
(B) Lord William Bentinck
(C) Robert Clive
(D) Warren Hastings
Answer: (A) Sir Charles Metcalfe
Explanation: Charles Metcalfe is remembered as the Liberator of the Indian Press for the 1835 measure that removed important licensing restrictions. His reforms enabled the expansion of newspapers in colonial India, although later governments periodically reintroduced harsh press controls.
Q55. In which year was the Censorship of Press Act introduced in British India?
[MP Police SI (17 January 2026, Shift 1)]
(A) 1799
(B) 1774
(C) 1793
(D) 1773
Answer: (A) 1799
Explanation: Governor-General Lord Wellesley introduced press censorship regulations in 1799, amid British concerns during conflict with France. The rules required scrutiny of printed material and restricted political discussion. They were an early instance of colonial supervision of newspapers in India.
Q54. Consider: Assertion (A): Gandhi’s newspapers carried many advertisements. Reason (R): His newspapers enjoyed a large circulation. Which option is correct?
[UGC NET Paper I (5 January 2026, Shift 2)]
(A) Both A and R are true, and R explains A
(B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
(C) A is true, but R is false
(D) A is false, but R is true
Answer: (D) A is false, but R is true
Explanation: Gandhi resisted reliance on commercial advertising in his journals because he valued their independence and educational purpose. His newspapers nevertheless reached substantial audiences. Consequently, the assertion about numerous advertisements is false, while the reason about wide readership is accepted as true.
Q53. Which newspaper started by James Augustus Hicky is regarded as India’s first newspaper?
[Delhi Police Constable (4 January 2026, Shift 2)]
(A) Amrita Bazar Patrika
(B) Indian Spectator
(C) The Times of India
(D) Bengal Gazette
Answer: (D) Bengal Gazette
Explanation: Hicky launched the Bengal Gazette, also known as Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, in Calcutta in 1780. The English-language weekly criticized influential colonial figures and encountered official hostility. It occupies a foundational place in the history of Indian journalism.
Q52. Which Governor-General ended pre-censorship of the Indian press in 1818?
[Delhi Police Constable (29 December 2025)]
(A) Lord Hastings
(B) Lord Wellesley
(C) Charles Metcalfe
(D) John Adam
Answer: (A) Lord Hastings
Explanation: Lord Hastings relaxed the requirement for pre-publication censorship in 1818, marking an important change from earlier controls. This did not establish absolute press freedom: colonial authorities retained other powers. Metcalfe’s more comprehensive liberalizing measure followed in 1835.
Q51. Who began publication of the revolutionary weekly Ghadar?
[DSSSB TGT Social Science (8 November 2025)]
(A) Taraknath Das
(B) Lala Har Dayal
(C) Bhagat Singh
(D) Chandrashekhar Azad
Answer: (B) Lala Har Dayal
Explanation: Lala Har Dayal was a major organizer of the Ghadar movement in North America. Its paper, Ghadar, first appeared in 1913 and urged Indians to oppose British rule. Copies circulated internationally, linking emigrant communities with revolutionary politics.
Q50. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the founder of which newspaper or newspapers?
[MP Police Constable, memory-based (30 October 2025)]
(A) Maratha and Kesari
(B) English weekly
(C) Amrita Bazar Patrika
(D) Marathi weekly
Answer: (A) Maratha and Kesari
Explanation: Tilak launched Kesari in Marathi and Mahratta in English in 1881. Together they communicated his political views to different linguistic audiences. They were important platforms for advocacy of swaraj, mass mobilization and criticism of colonial administration.
Q49. Which newspaper was edited by Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi?
[OSSSC Combined Recruitment Examination (14 October 2025)]
(A) Hindustan
(B) Pratap
(C) Hitavada
(D) Aaj
Answer: (B) Pratap
Explanation: Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi founded and edited the Hindi newspaper Pratap in Kanpur. It criticized injustice, championed workers and peasants, and promoted anti-colonial nationalism. Vidyarthi is also remembered for his efforts to resist communal violence.
Q48. Who published the first newspaper in India?
[West Bengal Police SI (12 October 2025)]
(A) James Augustus Hicky
(B) Harish Chandra Mukherjee
(C) Dinabandhu Mitra
(D) Hem Chandra Kar
Answer: (A) James Augustus Hicky
Explanation: James Augustus Hicky began publishing the Bengal Gazette in Calcutta in January 1780. The paper challenged colonial officials and influential merchants, drawing lawsuits and repression. It is generally recognized as the first printed newspaper published in India.
Q47. Which newspaper began publication in 1919?
[OSSSC Combined Recruitment Examination (10 October 2025)]
(A) Dainik Asha
(B) Kirti
(C) Daily Milap
(D) The Samaja
Answer: (D) The Samaja
Explanation: The Samaja was started in 1919 by Gopabandhu Das in Odisha. It contributed to public education, social reform and political awareness during colonial rule. Through Odia journalism, it connected regional concerns with the broader Indian national movement.
Q46. Consider statements about Ghadar: (1) It arose in San Francisco in 1913; (2) Sohan Singh Bhakna was a founder; (3) its name came from a revolutionary weekly. Which are correct?
[UPSC CDS II (14 September 2025)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: The Ghadar movement developed among Indian expatriates in North America in 1913, with Sohan Singh Bhakna as a key founder. The newspaper Ghadar gave the movement its popular name and openly called for the overthrow of colonial rule.
Q45. Arrange Indian Opinion, The Indian Sociologist, Abhyudaya, The Leader and Young India in chronological order of their beginnings.
[UGC NET History (28 June 2025, Shift 1)]
(A) Indian Opinion, Young India, Abhyudaya, The Indian Sociologist, The Leader
(B) Indian Opinion, The Indian Sociologist, Abhyudaya, The Leader, Young India
(C) Indian Opinion, Abhyudaya, The Indian Sociologist, The Leader, Young India
(D) The Indian Sociologist, Indian Opinion, Abhyudaya, The Leader, Young India
Answer: (B) Indian Opinion, The Indian Sociologist, Abhyudaya, The Leader, Young India
Explanation: Indian Opinion began in 1903; The Indian Sociologist in 1905; Abhyudaya in 1907; and The Leader in 1909. Young India became associated with Gandhi later. The sequence traces several strands of overseas and domestic nationalist journalism.
Q44. In which language was Tilak’s newspaper Mahratta published?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I (13 June 2025, Shift 3)]
(A) Bengali
(B) Hindi
(C) English
(D) Marathi
Answer: (C) English
Explanation: Mahratta was Tilak’s English-language weekly, launched alongside the Marathi Kesari in 1881. Using two languages allowed his political arguments to reach both local Marathi readers and an English-educated audience in India and abroad.
Q43. Who was known as the Liberator of the Indian Press?
[CUET PG History (28 March 2025)]
(A) Thomas Babington Macaulay
(B) Lord William Bentinck
(C) John Adam
(D) Charles Metcalfe
Answer: (D) Charles Metcalfe
Explanation: Charles Metcalfe’s Press Act of 1835 liberalized the colonial publishing environment by removing licensing rules. Indian newspapers expanded during the subsequent period. The epithet Liberator of the Indian Press refers to this measure, not to complete freedom from later regulation.
Q42. Which enactment of 1878 was popularly known as the Gagging Act?
[RPF Constable, 2024 cycle (7 March 2025)]
(A) Government of India Act, 1858
(B) Government of India Act, 1919
(C) Regulating Act, 1773
(D) Vernacular Press Act, 1878
Answer: (D) Vernacular Press Act, 1878
Explanation: The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was nicknamed the Gagging Act because it restrained political expression in non-English newspapers. It was enacted under Lord Lytton and condemned by Indian nationalists as discriminatory. Lord Ripon repealed it in 1882.
Q41. In which year was the Indian Press Act passed?
[SSC GD Constable (20 February 2025)]
(A) 1911
(B) 1913
(C) 1912
(D) 1910
Answer: (D) 1910
Explanation: The Indian Press Act, 1910 gave colonial authorities wide powers to demand securities from publishers and seize publications judged objectionable. It was used against nationalist and revolutionary writing and further strengthened official supervision of political reporting.
Q40. In which year was the Vernacular Press Act enacted?
[SSC Stenographer (11 December 2024)]
(A) 1876
(B) 1879
(C) 1875
(D) 1878
Answer: (D) 1878
Explanation: Lord Lytton’s government enacted the Vernacular Press Act in 1878 to suppress criticism appearing in Indian-language newspapers. Because it did not similarly restrict English papers, the measure symbolized discriminatory colonial rule and provoked widespread protest among Indian journalists.
Q39. Consider statements about Balshastri Jambhekar: (A) he began the Anglo-Marathi newspaper Darpan in 1832; (B) he is called the father of Marathi journalism; (C) he brought out Digdarshan in 1840. Which are correct?
[SSC MTS (22 October 2024)]
(A) B only
(B) A only
(C) A and B only
(D) A, B and C
Answer: (D) A, B and C
Explanation: Balshastri Jambhekar launched Darpan in 1832 and later Digdarshan in 1840. He is widely regarded as a pioneer of Marathi journalism. His publications supported public education and the spread of modern knowledge in western India.
Q38. Which is regarded as the first newspaper published in India?
[WBPSC Miscellaneous Services (15 September 2024)]
(A) Bengal Gazette
(B) Sambad Kaumudi
(C) Mirat-ul-Akhbar
(D) Hindu Patriot
Answer: (A) Bengal Gazette
Explanation: Hicky’s Bengal Gazette started in Calcutta in 1780, decades before Sambad Kaumudi or Hindu Patriot. It was an English weekly and became known for challenging powerful officials. Its struggles illustrated the limited tolerance of the colonial establishment for a critical press.
Q37. Identify correct pairs:
(1) Thiru. V. Ka.—Desabakthan;
(2) Subramania Bharati—The Hindu;
(3) Annie Besant—New India;
(4) Kasturi Ranga Iyengar—India.
[TNPSC Group II (14 September 2024)]
(A) (1) and (3) only
(B) (1) and (4) only
(C) (1), (3) and (4) only
(D) (2), (3) and (4) only
Answer: (A) (1) and (3) only
Explanation: Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaram was associated with Desabakthan, while Annie Besant used New India to promote Home Rule. Bharati’s famous publication was India, and Kasturi Ranga Iyengar was associated with The Hindu. Thus only the first and third pairings are correct.
Q36. Bal Gangadhar Tilak edited which newspaper?
[WBCS Main, 2023 cycle (18 August 2024)]
(A) Bande Mataram
(B) Mahratta
(C) Enquirer
(D) Hindu Patriot
Answer: (B) Mahratta
Explanation: Tilak’s English weekly Mahratta addressed an educated readership, while his Marathi Kesari reached the wider public in western India. Both were established in 1881 and became central platforms for his political activism and advocacy of swaraj.
Q35. Which Viceroy enacted the Vernacular Press Act?
[WBCS Main, 2023 cycle (18 August 2024)]
(A) Lord Curzon
(B) Lord Ripon
(C) Lord Lytton
(D) None of the above
Answer: (C) Lord Lytton
Explanation: Lord Lytton enacted the Vernacular Press Act in 1878, amid mounting opposition to colonial policies. The measure singled out Indian-language newspapers for restrictive controls. Lord Ripon repealed the law in 1882 as part of his more liberal approach.
Q34. Which newspaper was notably outspoken in its nationalist criticism of British rule?
[Bihar TRE 3.0 (21 July 2024)]
(A) The Pioneer
(B) Amrita Bazar Patrika
(C) The Statesman
(D) More than one of the above
Answer: (B) Amrita Bazar Patrika
Explanation: Amrita Bazar Patrika developed into an outspoken nationalist paper associated with Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal Ghosh. It famously switched from Bengali to English when the Vernacular Press Act threatened Indian-language publications. Its editorials opposed colonial repression.
Q33. In which year did the colonial government enact the Vernacular Press Act?
[Bihar TRE 3.0 (19 July 2024)]
(A) 1885
(B) 1878
(C) 1880
(D) More than one of the above
Answer: (B) 1878
Explanation: The law was passed in 1878 during Lord Lytton’s viceroyalty. By imposing special controls on vernacular publications, it attempted to weaken the spread of anti-colonial criticism. Organized protests and sustained objections followed; Lord Ripon repealed the law in 1882.
Q32. Who started the newspaper Commonweal?
[Maharashtra Police Constable (7 July 2024)]
(A) Annie Besant
(B) Sarojini Naidu
(C) Subhas Chandra Bose
(D) B. R. Ambedkar
Answer: (A) Annie Besant
Explanation: Annie Besant started the weekly Commonweal in 1914 and used journalism to advance Indian self-government. She also edited New India. Both publications helped popularize Home Rule arguments before and during the movement she launched in 1916.
Q31. Which newspaper was published by Raja Rammohan Roy?
[WBPSC Food SI (17 March 2024)]
(A) Sambad Kaumudi
(B) Hindu Patriot
(C) Sandhya
(D) The Enquirer
Answer: (A) Sambad Kaumudi
Explanation: Raja Rammohan Roy used the Bengali Sambad Kaumudi to advocate social reform, educational change and informed public debate. He also published the Persian Mirat-ul-Akhbar. His work made the early Indian press an important instrument of reformist opinion.
Q30. What was the name of India’s first newspaper?
[JKSSB Sub Inspector Finance (10 March 2024)]
(A) The Hindu
(B) Amrita Bazar Patrika
(C) Bengal Gazette
(D) Samachar Darpan
Answer: (C) Bengal Gazette
Explanation: The Bengal Gazette, launched by James Augustus Hicky in 1780, predates the other listed papers. Published in Calcutta, it exposed contentious colonial affairs and faced suppression. It is consequently a standard landmark in accounts of India’s early press.
Q29. The Vernacular Press Act was enacted in which year?
[SSC GD Constable (27 February 2024, Shift 3)]
(A) 1872
(B) 1868
(C) 1878
(D) 1862
Answer: (C) 1878
Explanation: The 1878 Act was intended to curb Indian-language newspapers that criticized British policies. Lord Lytton’s administration applied restrictive provisions to vernacular publishing while leaving English newspapers comparatively protected. The resulting outrage made press liberty a significant nationalist demand.
Q28. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was linked with colonial concern over reporting of which conflict?
[SSC GD Constable (27 February 2024, Shift 1)]
(A) Second Anglo-Afghan War
(B) Portuguese-Afghan War
(C) Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
(D) Anglo-French War
Answer: (A) Second Anglo-Afghan War
Explanation: Criticism of Lytton’s policies, including developments leading to the Second Anglo-Afghan War, worried the colonial administration. The 1878 Vernacular Press Act was designed to restrain hostile reporting in Indian languages. Broader discontent also concerned famine policies and imperial expenditure.
Q27. Which journal was edited by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad?
[Bihar Primary Teacher (14 December 2023)]
(A) Zamindar
(B) Comrade
(C) Al-Hilal
(D) More than one of the above
Answer: (C) Al-Hilal
Explanation: Abul Kalam Azad started the Urdu weekly Al-Hilal in Calcutta in 1912. Its outspoken anti-imperial commentary sought to awaken political consciousness, especially among Muslim readers. Colonial authorities restricted the paper; Azad later issued Al-Balagh.
Q26. Which statements about the Vernacular Press Act are correct? (1) Lytton introduced it in 1878; (2) it was called the Gagging Act; (3) Ripon repealed it.
[69th BPSC Preliminary Examination (30 September 2023)]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three statements are accurate. Lytton’s administration passed the Vernacular Press Act in 1878, prompting the nickname Gagging Act. It targeted political reporting in Indian languages. Lord Ripon repealed it in 1882 after strong criticism from Indian newspapers and public leaders.
Q25. Who is often described as the father of Indian journalism?
[Bihar STET (8 September 2023)]
(A) Raja Rammohan Roy
(B) Govinda Mohan
(C) James Augustus Hicky
(D) Vinoba Bhave
Answer: (C) James Augustus Hicky
Explanation: James Augustus Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, first published in 1780, is considered the beginning of newspaper journalism in India. His confrontations with colonial officials established an early precedent for a combative press, although his work long preceded organized Indian nationalism.
Q24. Rast Goftar chiefly addressed the interests of which community?
[SSC MTS (6 September 2023)]
(A) Sikhs
(B) Muslims
(C) Parsis
(D) Hindus
Answer: (C) Parsis
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji founded Rast Goftar in 1851 as a reformist publication associated with the Parsi community. The Gujarati-language paper discussed social issues and public affairs. Naoroji later became a leading early nationalist and critic of the economic drain from India.
Q23. The first issue of the revolutionary newspaper Ghadar appeared in which language?
[Bihar Secondary Teacher (26 August 2023)]
(A) Gurmukhi
(B) Urdu
(C) Hindi
(D) More than one of the above
Answer: (B) Urdu
Explanation: The first issue of Ghadar appeared in Urdu in November 1913; a Gurmukhi edition followed. Printed in North America, it urged Indian emigrants and soldiers to resist British rule. Multilingual publication helped the movement reach diverse overseas Indian communities.
Q22. Which leader was associated with the newspaper New India?
[Bihar Primary Teacher (24 August 2023)]
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Annie Besant
(C) Surendranath Banerjee
(D) More than one of the above
Answer: (B) Annie Besant
Explanation: Annie Besant transformed New India into a forceful advocate of Indian self-government. She supplemented her speeches and organizational activities with editorials demanding political reform. The newspaper became particularly important during the Home Rule agitation of the First World War period.
Q21. For which community was Rast Goftar primarily published?
[SSC CHSL (17 August 2023)]
(A) Hindus
(B) Muslims
(C) Sikhs
(D) Parsis
Answer: (D) Parsis
Explanation: Rast Goftar was founded in 1851 by Dadabhai Naoroji and served as a platform for reform within the Parsi community. It reflected the expansion of indigenous journalism and the emergence of a public sphere in western India before mass nationalism.
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.
Q10. Who was the notable editor of the Hindoo Patriot?
[WBCS Main, 2021 cycle (held 2022; exact date not established)]
(A) Harish Chandra Mukherjee
(B) Keshab Chandra Sen
(C) Debendranath Thakur
(D) Aurobindo Ghosh
Answer: (A) Harish Chandra Mukherjee
Explanation: Harish Chandra Mukherjee made the Hindoo Patriot a powerful voice against the oppression of indigo cultivators. His reporting during the Indigo Revolt helped expose planter abuses and showed that Indian newspapers could challenge powerful economic and colonial interests.
Q9. Which newspaper–editor pair is incorrectly matched?
[UPSC CDS I (10 April 2022)]
(A) Navjivan—Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Mahratta—Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(C) Bengalee—Surendranath Banerjee
(D) Voice of India—Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Answer: (D) Voice of India—Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation: Voice of India was associated with Dadabhai Naoroji, not Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Gandhi published Navjivan, Tilak edited Mahratta and Surendranath Banerjee became a leading voice of the Bengalee. These newspapers represented different strands of Indian political awakening.
Q8. Who published the Bengali newspaper Sambad Kaumudi?
[SSC GD Constable (16 November 2021)]
(A) Rash Behari Bose
(B) Raja Rammohan Roy
(C) Sisir Kumar Ghosh
(D) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Answer: (B) Raja Rammohan Roy
Explanation: Raja Rammohan Roy used Sambad Kaumudi as a reformist Bengali journal from the early 1820s. It discussed social practices, education and public questions. The paper demonstrates how print culture contributed to the intellectual conditions preceding organized Indian nationalism.
Q7. Who wrote the newspaper series New Lamps for Old?
[SSC MTS (20 October 2021)]
(A) Bipin Chandra Pal
(B) Aurobindo Ghosh
(C) Lala Lajpat Rai
(D) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Answer: (B) Aurobindo Ghosh
Explanation: Sri Aurobindo wrote New Lamps for Old, a series of political articles published in Indu Prakash in the 1890s. The essays sharply criticized the moderate political approach and foreshadowed his later association with assertive nationalist journalism.
Q6. Which newspaper was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa?
[SSC MTS (13 October 2021)]
(A) Young India
(B) Indian Opinion
(C) Swaraj Hind
(D) Navjivan
Answer: (B) Indian Opinion
Explanation: Indian Opinion began publication in South Africa in 1903 and became an essential channel for Gandhi’s early campaigns. It explained discriminatory laws, united Indian residents and spread ideas that later informed satyagraha and nationalist journalism in India.
Q5. Which of these Acts was passed in 1878?
[SSC MTS (5 October 2021)]
(A) Indian Contract Act
(B) East India Stock Dividend Redemption Act
(C) Transfer of Property Act
(D) Vernacular Press Act
Answer: (D) Vernacular Press Act
Explanation: The Vernacular Press Act was enacted in 1878 to limit criticism in Indian-language newspapers. It empowered the government to impose severe controls on publishers. The measure became an example of unequal colonial treatment of English and vernacular media.
Q4. Who founded the English newspaper Mahratta?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (21 March 2021)]
(A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(B) Lala Lajpat Rai
(C) Bipin Chandra Pal
(D) Ashwini Kumar Dutta
Answer: (A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a key founder of Mahratta, published in English from 1881. Together with Kesari in Marathi, it served as a platform for nationalist debate and political mobilization. The pairing helped his arguments cross linguistic boundaries.
Q3. Who started the first English-language newspaper in India?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination (2020)]
(A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(B) Raja Rammohan Roy
(C) James Augustus Hicky
(D) Lord William Bentinck
Answer: (C) James Augustus Hicky
Explanation: James Augustus Hicky established the Bengal Gazette in Calcutta in 1780, making it the earliest newspaper published in India. Although written in English and issued long before the freedom movement, it established an important early tradition of newspaper criticism.
Q2. Who was prominently associated with editing the Hindoo Patriot?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination (2018)]
(A) Surendranath Banerjee
(B) Motilal Ghosh
(C) Sisir Kumar Ghosh
(D) Harish Chandra Mukherjee
Answer: (D) Harish Chandra Mukherjee
Explanation: Harish Chandra Mukherjee guided the Hindoo Patriot during the Indigo Revolt, using investigative writing to bring planter abuses into public view. His journalism helped shape sympathy for cultivators and demonstrated the emerging political influence of the Indian press.
Q1. Who was the first editor of the South African newspaper Indian Opinion?
[UPPSC Civil Services Official Paper I (2014)]
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Albert West
(C) Mahadev Desai
(D) Mansukhlal Hiralal Nazar
Answer: (D) Mansukhlal Hiralal Nazar
Explanation: Mansukhlal Hiralal Nazar was the first editor of Indian Opinion, founded in South Africa in 1903 with Gandhi’s involvement. The newspaper highlighted discrimination against Indians and became a vital communication tool in the formative years of satyagraha.