When was the Official Secrets Act of India passed, which restricted freedom of the press?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) 1904.

The Indian Official Secrets Act of 1904 was enacted during the tenure of Lord Curzon to curb the freedom of the press and restrict the dissemination of official information. This act was an amendment to the Official Secrets Act of 1889, making it more stringent in controlling the flow of sensitive government information.

The act was primarily aimed at preventing leakage of classified information and suppressing nationalist publications that were critical of British rule. It imposed severe restrictions on journalists, editors, and publishers, making it a criminal offense to possess or publish government documents without authorization.

Information Booster:

• The 1904 Act strengthened the existing Official Secrets Act of 1889 by giving broader powers to the government to prosecute those accused of leaking or publishing classified information.
• It restricted press freedom and was used against nationalist leaders and newspapers that opposed British rule.
• The act laid the foundation for later restrictive laws, including the Indian Press Act of 1910, which imposed stricter censorship.
• Lord Curzon was also responsible for the Partition of Bengal (1905), which further increased tensions between the British government and Indian nationalists.
• The Indian Official Secrets Act was later modified and integrated into the Official Secrets Act of 1923, which remains in force in India with amendments.