WBCS.LIVE practice question

The Act that gave enormous powers to the British Government to repress political activities was:

Solve this multiple-choice question and check the correct answer with its explanation below.

Answer options

  1. Arms Act
  2. Vernacular Press Act
  3. Rowlatt Act
  4. Act III of 1882

Correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: Rowlatt Act

Explanation: The Rowlatt Act (1919) gave the British Government sweeping powers to arrest and detain individuals without trial, suppressing political freedom. 📚 Other Information: ▪️ Officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919. ▪️ It allowed imprisonment without trial for two years. ▪️ Introduced by Sir Sidney Rowlatt, chairman of the Sedition Committee. ▪️ Gandhi called it 'Black Act' and launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha in protest. ▪️ It led to mass agitations across India, especially in Punjab. ▪️ The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919) occurred in its aftermath. ▪️ The Act violated principles of civil liberty and justice. ▪️ It exposed the repressive nature of British colonial rule.