The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act was passed in 1904 under the Viceroy:

The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act was passed in 1904, during the viceroyalty of Lord Curzon (1899-1905).

About the Act:

• It was the first comprehensive law for the protection of ancient monuments and archaeological sites in India.
• It gave the government the power to declare monuments as "protected", to prevent damage, and to control excavations.
• It provided for the protection of objects of archaeological, historical or artistic interest.
• It was later replaced by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

Curzon and the Archaeological Survey:

• Curzon took a keen interest in India's heritage.
• He revived and reorganised the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and appointed John Marshall as its Director-General (1902).
• He ordered the restoration of many monuments, such as the Taj Mahal and the buildings at Fatehpur Sikri.
• He also had a lamp hung in the Taj Mahal's main chamber.

Other measures of Curzon:

• The Indian Universities Act, which increased government control over universities.
• The Police Commission (1902), headed by Andrew Fraser.
• The creation of the North-West Frontier Province (1901).
• The Partition of Bengal (1905), which led to the Swadeshi Movement.
• The Calcutta Corporation Act (1899), which reduced the number of elected members.
• A department of commerce and industry was set up.
• The Imperial Cadet Corps was set up.

His resignation:

He resigned in 1905 after a dispute with the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Kitchener.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Minto II, Elgin II and Hardinge II were other Viceroys of the 1890s-1910s.