(i) The Vernacular Press Act was passed because the vernacular newspapers were assertively nationalist. They openly criticized and debated the government policies.
(ii) The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was passed which empowered the government to censor reports and editorials.
(iii) The government kept a regular tract of vernacular newspapers. If a report was judged seditious, the newspaper was warned and if warning was ignored appropriate actions were taken.
