The Vernacular Press Act and the Arms Act, both of 1878, were passed during the time of:

Lord Lytton was Viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880. His rule is remembered as one of the most unpopular periods of British rule, because of several repressive and costly measures.

The Vernacular Press Act, 1878 was passed to control newspapers published in Indian languages, which were criticising the government's policies. Under it, the government could ask the printer and publisher of a vernacular newspaper to give a bond and promise not to publish anything that might excite "disaffection" against the government. If they broke this promise, their press and property could be seized, and there was no right of appeal to a court. English-language newspapers were not covered by the Act, so it was criticised as discriminatory and nicknamed the "Gagging Act". The "Amrita Bazar Patrika" changed overnight from a Bengali newspaper into an English one to escape the Act. The Act was repealed in 1882 by the next Viceroy, Lord Ripon.

The Indian Arms Act, 1878 made it a crime for Indians to keep or carry arms without a licence, but Europeans and Anglo-Indians were exempt. This too was seen as racial discrimination.

Lytton also held the grand Delhi Durbar of 1 January 1877, which proclaimed Queen Victoria as "Empress of India" (Kaiser-i-Hind), even while a severe famine was going on in South India. His government reduced the maximum age for the Indian Civil Service examination from 21 to 19 years, making it harder for Indians to compete. His time also saw the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Lord Ripon repealed the Vernacular Press Act (1882) and introduced local self-government.
• ✗Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal (1905).
• ✗Lord Dalhousie introduced the Doctrine of Lapse.