To select the most fitting word, the sentence's context is crucial. It concerns the British Raj's response to vernacular newspapers advocating for Indian home rule. A word indicating restriction or prohibition is needed, as the British Raj would likely oppose newspapers challenging its authority.
Evaluating the choices:
- Prescribed: Signifies recommendation or positive direction. Inapplicable here, as the British Raj would not endorse newspapers promoting Indian home rule.
- Proscribed: Means to forbid, often legally. This aligns with the context, suggesting the British Raj legally banned or restricted newspapers advocating for independence.
- Probated: Pertains to the legal validation of wills. Irrelevant to newspapers and the British Raj.
- Popularised: Implies making something widely known or liked, the inverse of the British Raj's likely objective in this situation.
Based on this analysis, the appropriate word is proscribed.