(a) The Vernacular Press Act, 1878 was passed by Lord Lytton. The Act, which was not applicable to the English newspapers, forbade the Vernacular Papers to publish anything that might excite feelings of dissatisfaction against the government. In 1882, this Act was repealed by Lord Ripon. 

(b) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was a loyal supporter of the British Empire and asked the Muslims to keep away from the Indian National Congress. He regarded the Congress as an unnecessary organisation and considered it harmful for the interests of the Muslims. He thought that the Congress was dominated by the Hindus, and Muslims had no place in it. He felt that the Muslims can protect their economic and political interests through exposure to western education and English language. In fact all the influential Government posts and business opportunities were linked with Western Education. Therefore he asked the Muslims to show loyalty to the British who would take care of Muslim interests. He founded Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh to popularize scientific and western learning among the Muslims. This college became the nucleus of a Movement popularly known as the Aligarh Movement. Thus Sir Syed Ahmed played a key role in the formation of Muslim League to nurture the political, social, economic and other interests of the Muslims. 

(c) The objectives of the Indian National Congress were as follows: 

1. To promote close relations among the Nationalist workers of the country. 

2. To develop and consolidate the feelings of unity among the people without any consideration of caste, religion or region. 

3. To spell out popular demands of the people and present them before the government. 

4. To train and organize public opinion of Indians on various important issues.