Concept:This question tests knowledge of key British colonial laws and the timeline of Indian nationalist grievances.
Explanation:Option A is correct: The Arms Act was indeed passed in 1878 to strip Indians of the right to own weapons.
Option B is incorrect: The Vernacular Press Act was passed in 1878 (not 1880), and its aim was to suppress Indian-language newspapers, not to support the government.
Option C is correct: The Ilbert Bill controversy in 1883 sparked intense opposition from the British community in India.
Option D is correct: Discontent with British rule grew sharply in the 1870s and 1880s due to repressive laws and economic hardships.
Only the statement in option B has both the year and the purpose wrong.
Answer:B. The Vernacular Press Act was passed in 1880, to support the Government.