Proposed by Lord Lytton, then viceroy of India (governed 1876-80), the act was intended to prevent the vernacular press from expressing criticism of British policies-notably, the opposition that had grown with the outset of the Second ______________ (1878-80).

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) Anglo-Afghan War.
· The Vernacular Press Act was proposed by Lord Lytton in 1878 to suppress the criticism of British policies by the Indian vernacular press. This was especially in response to the opposition that grew during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80).
· The act aimed to curtail the freedom of the press and prevent Indian newspapers from voicing opposition to British military actions and policies in Afghanistan.
Information Booster:
· The Anglo-Mysore War refers to a series of conflicts between the British and the Kingdom of Mysore in South India.
· The Portuguese-Afghan War and Anglo-French War are not historically relevant to this period.