The Vernacular Press Act, 1878 was nicknamed as Gagging Act. 

A “Gagging Act” had been passed following the Indian Rebellion of 1857 which sought to regulate the establishment of printing presses and to restrain the mad of printed mater. All presses had to have a licence from the government with distinction between publications in English and other regional languages. The Act also held that no printed material shall impugn the motives of the British Raj, tending to bring it hatred and contempt and exciting unlawful resistance to its orders.