Indian National Congress is part of Modern History of India. Below are notes on 14 sub-topics, followed by practice MCQs from State PSC and UPSC papers.

Civil Disobedience Movement: Dandi March, various phases, INC's strategy and leadership.

  • Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) Background: Initiated after the Lahore Congress (Dec 1929) declared Purna Swaraj (complete independence) as its goal and Gandhi's 11 demands were ignored by Viceroy Irwin.
  • Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha):
    • Start: March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 followers.
    • End: April 6, 1930, at Dandi, breaking the salt law.
    • Purpose: Symbolic defiance of British law, triggering nationwide CDM.
  • Phases of CDM:
    • Phase 1 (April 1930 - March 1931):
      • Widespread salt law violations, picketing of foreign cloth and liquor shops, no-tax campaigns.
      • Government repression led to mass arrests, including Gandhi in May 1930, who was taken to Yervada Prison (a-2).
      • Key figures: C. Rajagopalachari (Vedaranyam Salt March), Sarojini Naidu (Dharsana Salt Works raid), Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Red Shirts).
    • Gandhi-Irwin Pact (Delhi Pact): Signed March 5, 1931.
      • Congress agreed to suspend CDM and participate in the Second Round Table Conference (RTC II).
      • Gandhi faced black flags on his way to Karachi Congress (c-1) due to the pact and his inability to secure commutation of death sentences for Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.
    • Phase 2 (Jan 1932 - April 1934):
      • Resumed after the failure of RTC II and new Viceroy Lord Willingdon's repressive policies.
      • Gandhi was arrested immediately upon return from RTC II (Jan 1932) and again imprisoned in Yervada.
      • Communal Award (Aug 1932): British PM Ramsay MacDonald announced separate electorates for Depressed Classes.
      • Gandhi undertook a fast unto death (b-4) in Yervada Prison against the Communal Award.
      • Poona Pact (Sep 1932): Agreement between Gandhi and Ambedkar, replacing separate electorates with reserved seats for Depressed Classes in joint electorates.
      • CDM officially suspended in May 1933 and withdrawn in April 1934, partly due to Gandhi's shift in focus to Harijan uplift.
  • INC's Strategy & Leadership:
    • Leadership: Mahatma Gandhi as the primary leader, with support from other prominent INC figures.
    • Strategy: Non-violent civil disobedience, mass mobilization, symbolic defiance (salt law), moral persuasion.
    • Goal: Purna Swaraj.
  • Congress Crisis of 1939:
    • Subhas Chandra Bose defeated Pattabhi Sitaramayya (Gandhi's candidate) for Congress presidency at Tripuri.
    • Gandhi stated, "Pattabhi's defeat is more mine than his" (d-3), reflecting his displeasure and the internal rift.
    • Bose subsequently resigned and formed the Forward Bloc.

Emergence of Mahatma Gandhi and his early movements (Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad).

Kheda,

Ahmedabad).

  • Mahatma Gandhi returned to India on Jan 9, 1915, from South Africa.
  • His political guru was Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
  • His core methodology was Satyagraha (truthforce) and Ahimsa (non-violence).
  • Champaran Satyagraha (1917): First Civil Disobedience.
    • Location: Champaran, Bihar.
    • Cause: Exploitation of indigo farmers under the "Tin Kathia" system (forced to grow indigo on 3/20th of land).
    • Key associates: Rajendra Prasad, J.B. Kripalani, Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parikh, Mazhar-ul-Haq.
    • Outcome: Inquiry committee formed, Tin Kathia system abolished, farmers compensated.
  • Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918): First Hunger Strike.
    • Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
    • Cause: Mill owners refused to pay plague bonus; workers demanded 35% wage hike.
    • Method: Gandhi undertook his first fast unto death in India.
    • Outcome: Workers received a 35% wage increase.
  • Kheda Satyagraha (1918): First Non-Cooperation.
    • Location: Kheda, Gujarat.
    • Cause: Crop failure (less than 1/4th of normal yield) due to famine, but government insisted on full land revenue collection. Farmers demanded remission.
    • Key associates: Vallabhbhai Patel, Indulal Yagnik.
    • Method: Non-payment of land revenue.
    • Outcome: Government agreed to suspend revenue collection from poor farmers and only recover from those who could pay.
  • Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Annual Session of the Indian National Congress only once, at the Belgaum Session in 1924.
  • The Naga woman leader Gaidinliu was given the title "Rani" by Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • During Gandhi's visit to the NWFP in October 1938, he was accompanied by Sushila Nayar, Amtus Salam, and other close associates. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was the host. Jawaharlal Nehru did not specifically accompany him on this trip as a core member of his traveling party.

Establishment of the Indian National Congress: Background, aims, early leaders.

  • Formation: Indian National Congress (INC) was formed in December 1885.
  • Founder: Allan Octavian Hume (A. O. Hume), a retired British Indian Civil Service officer. Often called the "Father of the Indian National Congress."
  • First Session: Held in Bombay (Mumbai) in December 1885. It was originally planned for Poona but shifted due to a plague outbreak.
  • First Session Delegates: Attended by 72 delegates from various parts of India.
  • Viceroy at Formation: Lord Dufferin.
  • First President: Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W. C. Bonnerjee).
  • Second President: Dadabhai Naoroji (Calcutta Session, 1886). He is known as the "Grand Old Man of India."
  • First Muslim President: Badruddin Tyabji (Madras Session, 1887).
  • Second Muslim President: Rahimtullah M. Sayani (Calcutta Session, 1896).
  • First English President: George Yule (Allahabad Session, 1888).
  • Presidents who served more than once: W.C. Bonnerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Sir William Wedderburn.
  • Leaders who never presided over an INC session: Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
  • Youngest President of INC: Abul Kalam Azad (elected in 1923, Delhi Special Session).
  • Mahatma Gandhi as President: Presided only once, at the Belgaum Session in 1924.
  • Safety Valve Theory:
    • Concept: Proposed by Lala Lajpat Rai (in his book 'Young India', 1916). It suggests that Hume founded INC with Lord Dufferin's passive approval to provide a safe, constitutional outlet for the rising discontent among educated Indians, thereby preventing a mass uprising against British rule.
    • Criticism: Bipan Chandra rejected it as a 'myth', arguing that Indian nationalists used Hume for their own objectives.
    • Lord Dufferin's remark: Called the Congress a "microscopic minority."
    • British view: Initially seen as a cooperative venture, but later termed "Rajadroha Ka Karkhana" (factory of sedition) by the British.
    • Hume's supporters for 'venting discontent': Sir William Wedderburn and Sir Henry Cotton.
  • Aims of Early Congress (Moderates): To create a common platform for political work, promote national unity, voice demands for administrative and legislative reforms through constitutional means.
  • Word "Congress": Borrowed from North American history, meaning an assembly of people.
  • British Committee of the Indian National Congress: Founded in London in 1889, with William Digby as its chairman. Published a journal named 'India'.
  • Official Historian of INC: B. Pattabhishitaramaiya.
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak's remark: Called Congress conferences the "Annual National Festival of Educated Indians."
  • Gopal Krishna Gokhale: Founded the Servants of India Society in 1905. Mahatma Gandhi considered him his political guru and described him as "diamond of India, the Jewel of Maharashtra and Prince of Workers."
  • Jana Gana Mana: First sung during the 1911 Calcutta Session of the INC.
  • Nagpur Session (1920): Provincial Congress Committees were constituted on a linguistic basis.
  • 1948 Congress decision: Rejected the demand for the formation of provinces on a linguistic basis (this stance was later changed).
  • Indian National Conference: This organization, led by Surendranath Banerji, merged with the Indian National Congress.

INC and the Question of Communalism & Partition.

  • J. B. Kripalani was the President of the Indian National Congress at the time of India's Partition (1947).
  • Sarojini Naidu described Muhammad Ali Jinnah as "the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity".
  • The Deoband Movement was a Muslim organization that proposed Muslims should participate and try to reach an accord with the Congress.
  • Prominent leaders of the All India Hindu Mahasabha included V.D. Savarkar, Bhai Parmanand, and Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.

INC's approach towards Princely States.

  • Initially, INC maintained a policy of noninterference in the internal affairs of Princely States, focusing primarily on British India.
  • Nagpur Session (1920): Passed a resolution urging princes to grant responsible government to their subjects.
  • Haripura Session (1938): Declared that the goal of Purna Swaraj (complete independence) applied to Princely States as well as British India. This marked the inclusion of the independence of Princely States in INC's overall goal.
  • Haripura Session (1938): Resolved that while the goal included independence for states, the INC itself would not directly interfere in the internal struggles within the states but would offer moral support, encouraging local Praja Mandals (States' People's Conferences) to lead the movements.
  • Tripuri Session (1939): Reaffirmed the Haripura resolution, reiterating non-interference by the central INC but extending full support to the movements for responsible government in states under the leadership of local Praja Mandals.

INC's Stance on Constitutional Reforms: Minto-Morley, Montagu-Chelmsford, Government of India Acts (1935).

Government of India Acts (1935).

  • Minto-Morley Reforms (Indian Councils Act 1909):
    • INC (Moderates) welcomed increased Indian representation in legislative councils but criticized limited powers and indirect elections.
    • Strongly opposed the introduction of separate electorates for Muslims, viewing them as divisive.
    • Overall, INC considered the reforms inadequate, failing to address the demand for self-government.
  • Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act 1919):
    • INC largely condemned the reforms as "unsatisfactory," "inadequate," and "disappointing," despite the promise of responsible government.
    • These reforms led to a split within the Congress. Moderate leaders like Tej Bahadur Sapru, M.R. Jayakar, and C.Y. Chintamani accepted the reforms as a positive, though imperfect, step towards self-government.
    • These moderate remnants, including Surendranath Banerjee and V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, formed the Indian National Liberal Federation (1918), breaking away from the mainstream Congress.
    • The main INC faction, while critical, eventually decided to contest elections under the Act to utilize the legislative councils and expose the reforms' limitations.
  • Government of India Act (1935):
    • INC unequivocally rejected the Act, labeling it a "new charter of bondage" and a "machine with strong brakes but no engine" (Nehru).
    • Criticized the proposed All-India Federation scheme, the retention of ultimate British control, and the continuation of separate electorates.
    • Despite outright rejection of the Act, INC decided to contest the provincial elections (1937) not to work the constitution, but to "combat" it and demand a Constituent Assembly.
    • Congress successfully formed ministries in 8 out of 11 provinces, demonstrating popular support and using the platform to further nationalistic goals.

Key Ideological Shifts and Resolutions: Lahore Session (Purna Swaraj), Karachi Resolution, Tripuri Crisis.

  • Swaraj & Early Demands:
    • Word 'Swarajya' first used by Swami Dayanand Saraswati, who also advocated Hindi as the national language.
    • Dadabhai Naoroji first demanded 'Swaraj' as the national demand at the 1906 Calcutta Session.
    • Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularized the slogan, "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it."
  • 1927 Madras Session:
    • Presided by Dr. M.A. Ansari.
    • Passed resolutions against the use of Indian troops in China and Mesopotamia.
    • Passed a resolution declaring 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) as the goal of the Indian people, but not formally adopted as INC's official goal.
  • 1929 Lahore Session (Purna Swaraj):
    • Presided by Jawaharlal Nehru.
    • Formally adopted 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) as the official goal of the Indian National Congress.
    • Declared January 26, 1930, as the first 'Purna Swaraj Day' (Independence Day).
    • Authorized the Working Committee to launch a Civil Disobedience Movement.
  • 1931 Karachi Resolution:
    • Presided by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
    • Endorsed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
    • Adopted resolutions on Fundamental Rights and a National Economic Programme, outlining the vision for independent India.
    • Key demands included universal adult franchise, right to form unions, free and compulsory primary education, and minimum wages.
  • Tripuri Crisis (1939):
    • 1939 Tripuri Session: Subhas Chandra Bose was re-elected president, defeating Pattabhi Sitaramayya (Mahatma Gandhi's preferred candidate).
    • Bose resigned from the presidency due to ideological differences and a lack of support from Gandhi and the Working Committee.
    • Rajendra Prasad was then elected as the president for the remaining term.
    • Subhas Chandra Bose subsequently formed the Forward Bloc.
  • Other Important Congress Sessions & Facts:
    • 1887 Madras Session: Presided by Badruddin Tyabji. (Note: 1887 Calcutta is incorrect).
    • 1916 Lucknow Session: Presided by Ambika Charan Majumdar; witnessed the Congress-League Pact.
    • 1922 Gaya Session: Presided by C.R. Das.
    • 1924 Belgaon Session: Presided by Mahatma Gandhi (his only time as INC President).
    • 1936 Faizpur Session: Presided by Jawaharlal Nehru; the first Indian National Congress session held in a rural area.
    • 1938 Haripura Session: Presided by Subhas Chandra Bose; formed the National Planning Committee with Jawaharlal Nehru as its Chairman.
    • Mahatma Gandhi suggested winding up the Indian National Congress after India attained independence.

Non-Cooperation Movement: Role of INC, causes, execution, withdrawal, impact.

  • Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)
  • Causes:
    • Post-WWI economic hardships (high prices, famine, inflation).
    • Rowlatt Act (1919) and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919).
    • Inadequacy of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919).
    • Khilafat Movement (support for Ottoman Caliphate).
    • Punjab wrongs (brutalities, martial law).
  • Role of INC & Programme:
    • Calcutta Special Session (Sept 1920): Presided by Lala Lajpat Rai; Gandhi's proposal for NCM adopted despite opposition from C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru.
    • Nagpur Session (Dec 1920): Presided by C. Vijaraghavachariar; NCM resolution formally ratified. Significant changes in INC constitution: working committee formed, linguistic reorganization of provincial committees, membership fee reduced to 4 annas.
    • Leadership: Mahatma Gandhi emerged as the undisputed leader.
    • Boycott Programme:
      • Government schools, colleges, and courts.
      • Foreign goods (bonfires of foreign cloth).
      • Legislative council elections.
      • Government titles, honours, and functions.
    • Constructive Programme:
      • Establishment of national schools/colleges (e.g., Jamia Millia Islamia, Kashi Vidyapith, Gujarat Vidyapith).
      • Promotion of Swadeshi (Khadi, hand-spinning).
      • Establishment of private arbitration courts.
      • Promotion of Hindu-Muslim unity.
      • Campaign against untouchability.
    • Swaraj Flag (1921): Designed by Mahatma Gandhi; featured Red, Green, and White colours, with a spinning wheel in the centre.
    • Tilak Swaraj Fund: Aimed to collect ₹1 crore, achieved by mid-1921.
    • Mass participation from students, women, peasants, workers, and middle class.
  • Withdrawal:
    • Chauri Chaura Incident (Feb 5, 1922): Mob set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur, UP), killing 22 policemen.
    • Decision to Withdraw (Feb 12, 1922): Gandhi, shocked by the violence, announced the suspension of the NCM from Bardoli.
    • Gandhi arrested in March 1922, sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.
  • Impact:
    • Transformed INC into a mass political organization, reaching rural areas.
    • Shattered the myth of British invincibility and instilled self-confidence among Indians.
    • Popularized Gandhi's leadership and methods of non-violent resistance.
    • Enhanced Hindu-Muslim unity, though temporarily.
    • Boosted the Swadeshi movement and self-reliance.
    • Created a political awakening among a wider section of the populace.
  • Quit India Movement (August 1942):
  • INC's Call: AICC session in Bombay (August 8, 1942) passed the 'Quit India' Resolution. Gandhi gave the call of "Do or Die."
  • Leadership Vacuum: On August 9, 1942 (Operation Zero Hour), major Congress leaders, including Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and Azad, were arrested.
  • Popular Participation: Spontaneous, largely leaderless, marked by strikes, hartals, sabotage of government property, and formation of parallel governments (e.g., Ballia, Tamluk, Satara). Underground leaders included Aruna Asaf Ali, Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Usha Mehta (Congress Radio).
  • Jaipur Prajamandal during QIM: Hiralal Shastri was its president.
  • Post-Independence Vision for INC: M.K. Gandhi suggested dissolving the Indian National Congress as a political organization post-independence, proposing its replacement by a Lok Sevak Sangh.

Relationship with Peasant and Labour Movements.

  • Indian National Congress (INC) initially focused on constitutional agitation but increasingly engaged with peasant and labour issues, especially post-Gandhian era.
  • Many leaders from the INC, dissatisfied with its post-independence policies, formed new parties.
  • Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP): Formed in 1951.
  • Founder: J.B. Kripalani, who resigned from the Congress in 1951 due to ideological differences.
  • Key Associated Leaders: P.C. Ghosh and T. Prakasam were prominent figures associated with the KMPP.
  • The KMPP later merged with the Socialist Party (led by Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia) in September 1952 to form the Praja Socialist Party (PSP).

Role of Women in the Indian National Congress.

  • Annie Besant: First woman President of the Indian National Congress (1917, Calcutta Session).
  • Annie Besant moved (and later withdrew) a resolution for the enfranchisement of women at the 1917 Calcutta Session of the INC.
  • Sarojini Naidu: First Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress (1925, Kanpur Session).

Subhas Chandra Bose and the Left Wing within INC.

  • 1928: Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose co-founded the Independence for India League, advocating for complete independence.
  • 1938 (Haripura Session): Subhas Chandra Bose was elected President of the Indian National Congress.
  • 1938: As INC President, Subhas Chandra Bose established the National Planning Committee, with Jawaharlal Nehru as its Chairman, to formulate a plan for economic development based on industrialization.
  • 1939 (Tripuri Session): Subhas Chandra Bose was re-elected INC President but resigned due to ideological differences with Mahatma Gandhi.
  • 1939: Following his resignation, Bose formed the Forward Bloc, aiming for a more aggressive stance against British rule.
  • Subhas Chandra Bose conferred the title "Rani" upon Gaidinliu, the Naga spiritual and political leader.
  • Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the youngest President of the Indian National Congress, holding office at 35 years of age (Delhi Special Session, 1923).

The Extremist Phase (1905-1919): Causes for rise, ideology, methods, prominent leaders (Lal-Bal-Pal), Surat Split (1907).

  • Extremist Phase (1905-1919):
  • Causes for Rise:
    • Failure of Moderate methods (petitions, prayers).
    • Growing public disillusionment with British rule.
    • Severe economic distress (famines, plague, high taxes).
    • Lord Curzon's reactionary policies: Calcutta Corporation Act (1899), Indian Universities Act (1904), Official Secrets Act (1904), Partition of Bengal (1905).
    • International influences: Japan's victory over Russia (1905), Ethiopia's victory over Italy (1896) challenged myth of Western invincibility.
    • Rise of national self-respect and pride (Atma Shakti).
  • Ideology:
    • Goal of Swaraj (self-rule, initially within Empire, later complete independence).
    • Belief in mass action and self-reliance, not British benevolence.
    • Distrust of British justice and fairness.
  • Methods:
    • Swadeshi: Promotion of indigenous goods and industries.
    • Boycott: Of foreign goods, government services, courts, schools.
    • National Education: Establishment of national schools and colleges.
    • Passive Resistance and Direct Action.
    • Mass mobilization through public meetings, processions, and festivals (Ganapati, Shivaji).
  • Prominent Leaders (Lal-Bal-Pal):
    • Lal: Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab) – "Lion of Punjab."
    • Bal: Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Maharashtra) – Slogan: "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it." Founded newspapers Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English).
    • Pal: Bipin Chandra Pal (Bengal).
    • Aurobindo Ghosh (Bengal).
  • Surat Split (1907):
    • Venue: Surat, December 1907.
    • Causes: Differences over the goal of Swaraj (Moderate's 'self-government within the Empire' vs. Extremist's 'complete autonomy'); scope of Swadeshi and Boycott resolutions; dispute over the presidential candidate (Extremists proposed Lala Lajpat Rai/ Tilak, Moderates supported Dr. Rash Behari Ghosh who was elected).
    • Outcome: Indian National Congress split into Moderates and Extremists. Extremists were expelled.
    • Significance: Weakened the national movement for almost a decade.
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Congress Sessions:
    • Attended Calcutta Session (1906) & Surat Session (1907).
    • Imprisoned from 1908 to 1914.
    • Key figure in the Congress reunion at Lucknow Session (1916).
    • Last INC session attended: Amritsar Session (December 1919).
    • Died: August 1, 1920.

The Moderate Phase (1885-1905): Ideology, methods, key figures, achievements, limitations.

figures,

achievements,

limitations.

  • Time Period: 1885-1905.
  • Ideology/Beliefs:
    • Believed in British sense of justice and fair play.
    • Loyalty to British Crown, saw British rule as 'Providential'.
    • Goal: Administrative reforms, greater Indian representation within the existing British framework, not complete independence (Purna Swaraj).
    • Adopted a gradualist approach to political reforms.
    • Admired British parliamentary institutions and modern Western thought.
    • Strongly criticized the economic aspect of British imperialism through the 'Drain Theory' (Dadabhai Naoroji, R.C. Dutt, D.E. Wacha).
    • Rajani Palme Dutt described them as those who "fought and collaborated with imperialism."
  • Methods:
    • Constitutional agitation: Petitions, prayers, memoranda, resolutions, speeches, and articles. (Often termed 'P3': Prayers, Petitions, Protests).
    • Educating public opinion in India and in Britain.
    • Sent deputations to England to lobby the British Parliament.
    • Appealed to the reason and generosity of British liberals.
  • Key Figures:
    • Dadabhai Naoroji ('Grand Old Man of India'): Author of 'Poverty and UnBritish Rule in India'; exponent of 'Drain Theory'; First Indian to be elected to the British House of Commons (1892) as a Liberal Party member; INC President (1886, 1893, 1906).
    • Gopal Krishna Gokhale: Mahatma Gandhi's political guru; founded Servants of India Society (1905); INC President (1905); served on the Islington Commission (Public Service, 1912-1915); Gandhi compared him to 'The Ganges'.
    • Surendranath Banerjee: Co-founder of Indian National Association (1876); 'Rastraguru'; INC President (1895, 1902).
    • Pherozeshah Mehta: Known as 'Lion of Bombay'; INC President (1890); Gandhi compared him to 'The Himalayas'.
    • Romesh Chunder Dutt (R.C. Dutt): Qualified for the Indian Civil Service (ICS); Economic historian ('Economic History of India'); Translated Ramayana and Mahabharata into English verse; INC President (1899); President of Bongiya Sahitya Parishad.
    • W.C. Bonnerjee: First President of INC (1885).
    • M.G. Ranade: 'Socrates of Maharashtra'.
    • Other notable moderates: Anandamohan Bose, Badruddin Tyabji, Dinshaw Wacha, G. Subramania Aiyar.
  • Achievements:
    • Created national political awakening and fostered unity among educated Indians.
    • Exposed the exploitative nature of British rule, particularly through the 'Drain Theory', which challenged the economic legitimacy of British administration.
    • Demands led to the Indian Councils Act of 1892 (increased Indian representation in legislative councils, albeit with limited powers).
    • Popularized democratic ideals and demands for civil liberties (e.g., freedom of speech, press, association).
    • Demanded Indianization of civil services, separation of the judiciary from the executive, repeal of the Arms Act, and reduction in military expenditure.
    • 'Vande Mataram' was first sung at the INC Calcutta Session in 1896.
  • Limitations/Criticisms:
    • Narrow social base, primarily representing the educated urban elite.
    • Failed to involve the masses in political movements.
    • Criticized by later Extremists as 'political mendicancy' for their reliance on petitions and prayers.
    • Slow pace of reforms from the British government.

13. Moderates and Extremists in Congress

Practice MCQs: Indian National Congress

Civil Disobedience Movement: Dandi March, various phases, INC's strategy and leadership.

  1. Matching the following in correct pairs ( in the context of Gandhiji) a. Gandhiji taken to Yerva‐ 1. For endorsing das prison Delhi Pact 2. The civil disb. He undertook fast unto obedience movedeath ment c. He was confronted with 3. Congress crisis black flags on way to Karaof 1939 chi d. He called the defeat more 4. Against Commine than theirs munal Award

    Asked in: CGPSC Prelims Exam 2013

    1. 2 4 1 3
    2. 1 2 3 4
    3. 1 4 2 3
    4. 2 4 3 1
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 2 4 1 3

    This question tests knowledge of key incidents and their chronological or contextual relationships during Mahatma Gandhi's leadership in the Indian

  2. The All India Nationalist Organization, before Congress, was known as

    Asked in: FISHERY OFFICER EXTENSION OFFICER (FO EO) 2020

    1. Zamindari Sabha
    2. Bombay Presidency Association
    3. Indian Association of Culture
    4. The Indian Karma Jogi Association
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Indian Association of Culture

    The Indian Association (founded in 1876) was a crucial organization in unifying educated Indians and raising political consciousness before the formation of the Indian National Congress. It played a significant role in organizing public opinion on political issues. freedom struggle, including his arrests, fasts, and political confrontations.

Emergence of Mahatma Gandhi and his early movements (Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad).

  1. Mahatma Gandhi presided over which Session of the Indian National Congress?

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 63rd

    1. 1922
    2. 1924
    3. 1928
    4. 1930
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 1924

    - The Indian National Congress held annual sessions where important decisions and policies were discussed and adopted, and a president was elected for the session. - While Mahatma Gandhi was a towering figure in the Indian freedom struggle and had immense influence over the Congress, he chose to preside over only one of its annual sessions. - This session was held in Belgaum (now in Karnataka) in December 1924.

  2. The only Annual Session of the Congress presided over by Mahatma Gandhi was :

    Asked in: OPSC CS Prelims 2016

    1. Kakinada, 1923
    2. Belgaum, 1925
    3. Karachi, 1931
    4. Guwahati, 1926
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Belgaum, 1925

    Despite being the most influential leader of the Congress for several decades, Gandhi chose to be President only once. This reflects his approach of guiding the movement from behind rather than holding formal power, focusing instead on mass mobilization and constructive work.

  3. Who did not accompany Gandhiji during his visit to the NWFP in October, 1938 ?

    Asked in: UPSC CISF AC EXE 2022

    1. Sushila Nayar
    2. Amtus Salam
    3. Jawaharlal Nehru
    4. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Jawaharlal Nehru

    - Gandhiji's visit to NWFP in 1938 was significant as it was a stronghold of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan's non-violent movement. - He toured the province to assess the political situation and the work of the Khudai Khidmatgars. - Sushila Nayar served as Gandhi's physician and close companion during many of his travels. - Amtus Salam was a dedicated follower who lived in Gandhi's ashrams and often accompanied him.

  4. Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Annual Session of Congress only once at

    Asked in: WBPSC CS Prelims 2023

    1. Kakinada, 1923
    2. Belgaum, 1925
    3. Kanpur, 1925
    4. Gauhati, 1926
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Belgaum, 1925

    - Mahatma Gandhi's presidency at the Belgaum session in 1924 is a unique event in the history of the INC. - The session focused on consolidating the Non-Cooperation Movement and promoting constructive programs like Khadi, Hindu-Muslim unity, and removal of untouchability.

  5. Who gave the title of Rani to the Naga woman leader Gaidinliu?

    Asked in: WBCS Main Paper 3 2019

    1. Subhas Chandra Basu
    2. Jawaharlal Nehru
    3. Thakkar Bapa
    4. Mahatma Gandhi
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Jawaharlal Nehru

    Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual and political leader who led a revolt against the British in the 1930s. After her release from prison in 1937, Jawaharlal Nehru met her and bestowed upon her the title of 'Rani' (Queen of the Nagas) in recognition of her struggle against British rule.

Establishment of the Indian National Congress: Background, aims, early leaders.

  1. When was the Indian National Congress formed?

    Asked in: APSC CCE Prelims Exam 2015

    1. January, 1885
    2. April, 1885
    3. July, 1885
    4. December, 1885
    Show answer

    Answer: D. December, 1885

    The Indian National Congress was founded on December 28, 1885, at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay. It was founded by Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British Indian Civil Service officer.

  2. Who was the founder of the Indian National Congress?

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 65th

    1. William Adam
    2. A. O. Hume
    3. Rash Behari Bose
    4. Motilal Nehru
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A. O. Hume

    A. O. Hume played a crucial role in bringing together various Indian leaders to form a national platform for political and social dialogue.

  3. "The Indian National Congress was founded on the basis of safety valve theory, to protect the British Government from threats." Which leader said that?

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 69th

    1. C. Rajagopalachari
    2. Lala Lajpat Rai
    3. Bipin Chandra Pal
    4. None of them
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Lala Lajpat Rai

    Lala Lajpat Rai was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement, part of the 'Lal Bal Pal' triumvirate. He critically analysed the origins of the Congress.

  4. Which of the following statements about the founding of the Indian National Congress (INC) is/are correct ? (1) The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed in 1885. (2) The first president of the Indian National Congress (INC) was Womesh Chandra Banerjee. Select the correct answer using the options given below:

    Asked in: CGPSC Prelims Exam 2023

    1. (1) only
    2. (2) only
    3. Both (1) and (2)
    4. Neither (1) nor (2)
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Both (1) and (2)

    The INC was founded by Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British Indian Civil Service officer. The first session was held in Bombay (Mumbai) from December 28 to 31, 1885.

  5. Which of the following statements are correct? 1. The Mahasabha had its first bitter experience of the changed government policy towards it at the occasion of the fourth session (1888) at Allahabad 2. Hume warned the government to start a movement like Anti corn Law League started in England under the leadership of Bright and Cobber to get food 3. Theoder Beck, the English principal of Aligarh College declared his complete support to Mahasabha

    Asked in: GPSC Prelims CSP 1 2022

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 1 and 3 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 1 and 2 only

    The government's attitude towards the Indian National Congress became overtly hostile from 1888 onwards. A.O. Hume warned the government about the potential for widespread unrest among the masses due to economic distress, potentially leading to a movement similar in scale to the Anti-Corn Law League if a constitutional outlet was not provided.

  6. Which of the following political parties was called 'Rajadroha Ka Karkhana' by the British ?

    Asked in: HPPSC HPAS Prelims 2013

    1. Muslim League
    2. Indian National Congress
    3. Communist Party of India
    4. Unionist Party
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Indian National Congress

    The British government used derogatory terms like 'factory of sedition' or 'Rajadroha Ka Karkhana' to describe the Indian National Congress, reflecting their perception of the party as a breeding ground for anti-British sentiments and activities.

  7. Among the following political parties, whom did the British call the 'factory of sedition'?

    Asked in: HPPSC HPAS Prelims 2013

    1. Muslim League
    2. Indian National Congress
    3. Communist Party of India
    4. Unionist Party
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Indian National Congress

    This term highlights the antagonistic relationship between the British colonial power and the Indian National Congress, especially as the latter became more vocal and active in demanding self-rule and independence.

INC and the Question of Communalism & Partition.

  1. Who was the President of the Indian National Congress at the time of partition of India?

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 65th

    1. J. B. Kripalani
    2. Jawaharlal Nehru
    3. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
    4. C. Rajagopalachari
    Show answer

    Answer: A. J. B. Kripalani

    The transfer of power and the partition of India into India and Pakistan took place in August 1947. J.B. Kripalani held the INC presidency during this crucial period.

  2. Who described Jinnah as "the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity" ?

    Asked in: MPSC CS Prelims 2015

    1. Mahatma Gandhi
    2. Sarojini Naidu
    3. Jawaharlal Nehru
    4. Tej Bahadur Sapru
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Sarojini Naidu

    Sarojini Naidu, a prominent poet and freedom fighter, used this phrase to describe Jinnah in her 1918 biography titled "Muhammad Ali Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity". This was during a period when Jinnah was actively involved in both the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League and played a key role in negotiating the Lucknow Pact of 1916, which saw the two major political parties agree on a scheme of constitutional reforms.

  3. A muslim organization, which proposed that Muslims should participate and try to reach an accord with the Congress, was

    Asked in: WBPSC CS Prelims 2023

    1. Muslim League
    2. Ahmadiya Movement
    3. Ehrar League
    4. Deoband Movement
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Ehrar League

    - The Ehrar League (Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam) was founded in 1929. - It was a nationalist Muslim organization that opposed the Muslim League's separatist politics. - The Ehrar League advocated for Muslim participation in the Indian nationalist movement and sought accord with the Congress.

  4. Which of the following was not a leader of the All India Hindu Mahasabha?

    Asked in: WBCS Main Paper 3 2019

    1. V.D. Savarkar
    2. Bhai Parmanand
    3. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
    4. M.R. Jayakar
    Show answer

    Answer: D. M.R. Jayakar

    V.D. Savarkar, Bhai Parmanand, and Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee were prominent leaders and served as Presidents of the All India Hindu Mahasabha. M.R. Jayakar also served as President of the Hindu Mahasabha (e.g., in 1923). However, compared to the long and deep association of Savarkar, Parmanand, and Mukherjee with the core ideology and leadership of the Mahasabha, Jayakar had a broader political career that included association with the Swaraj Party and liberal politics, and his primary identity was perhaps less exclusively tied to the Mahasabha over the long term than the others. While technically a leader, the question likely seeks the one whose leadership role was less defining compared to the others listed.

INC's approach towards Princely States.

  1. In which one of the following years did Indian National Congress include in its goal the independence of the Princely States?

    Asked in: UPSC Geoscientist 2020

    1. 1927
    2. 1929
    3. 1938
    4. 1939
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 1938

    - Prior to 1938, the Congress policy towards Princely States was generally one of non-interference in their internal affairs, though it supported the demand for responsible government by the people within the states. - At the Haripura Session of the Congress in 1938, presided over by Subhash Chandra Bose, a resolution was passed that explicitly declared Purna Swaraj (complete independence) as the goal for the Princely States as well as British India. - This marked a shift towards closer involvement in the political movements within the states (often organized under 'Praja Mandals' or 'Praja Parishads') and aligning their aspirations with the national goal of independence.

INC's Stance on Constitutional Reforms: Minto-Morley, Montagu-Chelmsford, Government of India Acts (1935).

  1. The Congress took a critical stand over the Montford Reforms in 1918, which led to break up with the old moderate remnants (Sapru, Jayakar and Chintamani) who formed the

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 68th

    1. Servants of India Society
    2. Swaraj Party
    3. Indian National Liberal Federation
    4. More than one of the above
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Indian National Liberal Federation

    Following the special session of the Congress in Bombay (August 1918) and the Delhi session (December 1918), where the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were criticized, prominent moderate leaders like Surendranath Banerjea, Tej Bahadur Sapru, V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, and M. R. Jayakar left the Indian National Congress. They formed the Indian National Liberal Federation in November 1918, believing in the possibility of working with the reforms while seeking further constitutional advancements.

Key Ideological Shifts and Resolutions: Lahore Session (Purna Swaraj), Karachi Resolution, Tripuri Crisis.

  1. Which one of the following is not correctly matched?

    Asked in: APSC CCE Prelims Exam 2006

    1. 1887 Indian National Congress Session - Cal‐ cutta
    2. 1916 Indian National Congress Session - Luc‐ know
    3. 1922 Indian National Congress Session - Gaya
    4. 1939 Indian National Congress Session - Tripuri
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 1887 Indian National Congress Session - Cal‐ cutta

    Let's verify the other options: B) 1916 Session: Held in Lucknow, presided over by Ambica Charan Mazumdar. Famous for the Lucknow Pact between Congress and the Muslim League. This is correctly matched. C) 1922 Session: Held in Gaya, presided over by Chittaranjan Das. This is correctly matched. D) 1939 Session: Held in Tripuri (Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh). Subhas Chandra Bose was elected president but later resigned, leading to the formation of the Forward Bloc. This is correctly matched.

  2. 'Swaraj' as a national demand was first made by who among the following?

    Asked in: APSC CCE Prelims Exam 2015

    1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
    2. Dadabhai Naoroji
    3. Jawaharlal Nehru
    4. Chittaranjan Das
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Dadabhai Naoroji

    The 1906 Calcutta session of the INC is a significant landmark where Swaraj was officially adopted as the Congress's objective, albeit initially interpreted by many as self-government within the British Empire.

  3. Which of the following is/are not true in relation to Congress Annual Session in 1927? (i) This session was presided by Dr. M.A. Ansari. (ii) This session passed a resolution against sending Indian Army to fight war in China and Japan. (iii) In this session, resolution on 'Purna Swaraj' was adopted.

    Asked in: CGPSC Prelims Exam 2022

    1. (i) and (ii)
    2. (ii) and (iii)
    3. Only (ii)
    4. None of the above
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Only (ii)

    - Statement (i) is true. The 1927 Madras session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by Dr. M.A. Ansari. - Statement (ii) is arguably not entirely true. The Madras session of 1927 did pass a resolution against sending Indian troops to China and other countries involved in foreign wars. While it mentioned China, specifying "and Japan" might make the statement strictly inaccurate depending on the exact wording of the resolution, or it might be considered broadly true. However, compared to (iii), its falsity is less certain based on typical accounts. - Statement (iii) is not true. While the 1927 Madras session did declare complete national independence as the goal of the Indian people, the formal "Purna Swaraj" resolution (which involved adopting Jan 26th as the Independence Day) was adopted at the Lahore Session in 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru.

  4. Which one of the following statements about the Faizpur Session of Congress is not true ?

    Asked in: MPSC CS Prelims 2014

    1. It was the first Session of Congress held in the rural area.
    2. It was attended by about 40,000 peasants.
    3. Dhanajinana Choudhari and Sane Guruji played an important role in organizing this ses‐ sion.
    4. Shankarrao Deo presided over this session.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Shankarrao Deo presided over this session.

    Jawaharlal Nehru was the president of the Faizpur Session (1936). The session was significant as the first held in a rural setting.

  5. Who among the following suggested the winding up of the Indian National Congress after India attained independence?

    Asked in: UPPCS Prelims 1996

    1. C. Rajagopalachari
    2. Acharya Kripalani
    3. Mahatma Gandhi
    4. Jayaprakash Narain
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Mahatma Gandhi

    Gandhi proposed that the Congress, having achieved its goal of independence, should cease to exist as a political party and transform itself into a Lok Sewak Sangh dedicated to social service among the people.

  6. 1924 Congress adhiveshan was held under chairmanship of Mahatma Gandhi at:

    Asked in: RPSC RAS Prelims 2010

    1. Gaya
    2. Amritsar
    3. Belgaon
    4. Kanpur
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Belgaon

    Mahatma Gandhi presided over only one session of the Indian National Congress in his entire political career. This session was the 39th session held in Belgaum (now Belagavi), Karnataka, in December 1924.

  7. The word SWARAJ was first used by:

    Asked in: APPSC Draughtman 2008

    1. R.C. Dutt
    2. M.G. Ranade
    3. Dadabai Nauroji
    4. A.C. Majumdar
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Dadabai Nauroji

    While the concept of self-rule existed earlier, the word 'Swaraj' was first used politically by Dadabhai Naoroji in the context of the Indian National Congress demand at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress in 1906, where he declared 'Swaraj' as the goal of the Congress.

Non-Cooperation Movement: Role of INC, causes, execution, withdrawal, impact.

  1. Which of the following three colours were the part of Swaraj Flag designed by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921?

    Asked in: Sr. Teacher (Sanskrit Edu.) Comp. Exam 2022

    1. (1) Red, Green and White
    2. (2) Saffron, White and Green
    3. (3) Red, White and Yellow
    4. (4) Saffron, White and Yellow
    Show answer

    Answer: B. (2) Saffron, White and Green

    b-2022 Mahatma Gandhi designed the Swaraj Flag in 1921, which later evolved into the national flag of India. The flag symbolized the aspirations of the Indian independence movement.

  1. Who among the following political leaders suggested the dissolution of the Indian National Congress as a political organization and its replacement by a Lok Sevak Sangh?

    Asked in: UPSC CDS 1 2023

    1. Vallabhbhai Patel
    2. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
    3. M. K. Gandhi
    4. Jawaharlal Nehru
    Show answer

    Answer: C. M. K. Gandhi

    Shortly before his assassination in 1948, Mahatma Gandhi expressed this view in his last will and testament, known as his 'Last Will and Testament'.

  2. Who was the president of Jaipur Prajamandal during the Quit India Movement ? (1) Hiralal Shastri (2) Karpurchand Patni (3) Jamnalal Bajaj (4) Ram Karan Joshi

    Asked in: ACF And Forest Range Officer Gr I Comp. Exam 2018

    1. (1)
    2. (2)
    3. (3)
    4. (4)
    Show answer

    Answer: B. (2)

    This question tests knowledge about the Indian independence movement, specifically the role of Prajamandals in princely states and the key personalities associated with them during significant historical periods like the Quit India Movement.

Relationship with Peasant and Labour Movements.

  1. Consider the following statements and choose the correct option : (i) J. B. Kripalani formed the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party in July, 1952 (ii) P. C. Ghosh and T. Prakasam were associated with Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party

    Asked in: CGPSC Prelims Exam 2020

    1. (i) is true, but (ii) is false
    2. (i) is false, but (ii) is true
    3. (i) and (ii) both are true
    4. (i) and (ii) both are false
    Show answer

    Answer: B. (i) is false, but (ii) is true

    J. B. Kripalani did form the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP), but he did so in 1951 after leaving the Congress, not in July 1952. P. C. Ghosh and T. Prakasam were indeed associated with KMPP.

Role of Women in the Indian National Congress.

  1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was

    Asked in: APSC CCE Prelims Exam 2014

    1. Sarojini Naidu
    2. Anne Besant
    3. Aruna Asaf Ali
    4. Suhasini Mulay
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Anne Besant

    BPSC Prelims Exam-65th - Annie Besant was the first woman INC President. - She presided over the 1917 Calcutta session. - Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman INC President (1925).

  2. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 67th Cancelled · Assistant Prosecuting Officer (APO) Exam 2009

    1. Sarojini Naidu
    2. Annie Besant
    3. Kasturba Gandhi
    4. Aruna Asaf Ali
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Annie Besant

    Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress. She was elected President in 1925 at the Kanpur session.

  3. Who was the first women president of the Indian National Congress ?

    Asked in: CGPSC Prelims Exam 2015 · TNPSC CS Prelims 2017

    1. Smt. Sarojani Naidu
    2. Sucheta Kriplani
    3. Rajkumari Amrita Kour
    4. Annie Besant
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Annie Besant

    While Sarojini Naidu was also a prominent figure and became President later, Annie Besant holds the distinction of being the first woman ever to hold the office within the INC.

  4. Who moved (and withdrew) a resolution for the enfranchisement of women in the 1917 Session of Indian National Congress ?

    Asked in: OPSC CS Prelims 2017

    1. Annie Besant
    2. Sarojini Naidu
    3. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
    4. Aruna Asaf Ali
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Annie Besant

    In the 1917 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress, which was presided over by Annie Besant, a resolution demanding voting rights for women was moved. Annie Besant herself moved this resolution, which was supported by other women leaders like Sarojini Naidu. Although the resolution was ultimately withdrawn pending consultation with other bodies, Annie Besant was the person who introduced it.

  5. Who amongst the following was the first woman President of the Indian National Congress?

    Asked in: WBPSC CS Prelims 2019

    1. Annie Besant
    2. Mira Behn
    3. Sarojini Naidu
    4. Sarala Debi Choudhurani
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Annie Besant

    Annie Besant was the first woman President of the Indian National Congress. She presided over the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in 1917.

  6. Who was first woman President of the Congress?

    Asked in: RPSC RAS Prelims 2012

    1. Kadambini Ganguli
    2. Sarojini Naidu
    3. Annie Besant
    4. Kamla Nehru
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Annie Besant

    The question asks for the first woman President of the Congress, not the first Indian woman President.

Subhas Chandra Bose and the Left Wing within INC.

  1. Pick out the odd person from the following :

    Asked in: MPSC CS Prelims 2019

    1. Shankarrao Deo
    2. Gangadharrao Deshpande
    3. Pundalikji Katgade
    4. Bhaskar Vishnu Kale
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Bhaskar Vishnu Kale

    Shankarrao Deo, Gangadharrao Deshpande, and Pundalikji Katgade were prominent figures associated with the Indian independence movement, particularly in the Maharashtra-Karnataka region. They were often associated with the Congress party and various nationalist activities. While Bhaskar Vishnu Kale was also involved in public life, including cooperative movements and politics in the same region, he is arguably less prominent in the mainstream narrative of the national freedom struggle compared to the other three. The question likely seeks the person whose historical prominence or specific area of activity differs most significantly from the others.

  2. Who among the following founded the Independence for India League ?

    Asked in: MPSC CS Prelims 2021

    1. Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose
    2. V.D. Savarkar
    3. B.S. Moonje and M.R. Jaykar
    4. B.S. Moonje and Shamaprasad Mukherjee
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose

    - The Independence for India League was established in 1928. - Its founders were Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose. - The League aimed for 'complete independence' for India.

  3. The youngest President of the Indian National Congress, who held that office at the age of 35, was

    Asked in: WBPSC CS Prelims 2023

    1. Rash Bihari Ghosh
    2. Subhas Chandra Bose
    3. Abul Kalam Azad
    4. Lala Lajpat Rai
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Abul Kalam Azad

    - Abul Kalam Azad presided over the special session of the Congress held in Delhi in 1923. - He holds the distinction of being the youngest person elected to the top post in the party's history up to that point.

  4. Who gave the title of Rani to the Naga women leader Gaidinliu?

    Asked in: WBPSC CS Prelims 2023

    1. Subhas Bose
    2. Jawaharlal Nehru
    3. Thakkar Bapa
    4. Mahatma Gandhi
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Jawaharlal Nehru

    Jawaharlal Nehru met Rani Gaidinliu after her release from prison in 1947. He was deeply impressed by her courage and leadership during her struggle against the British and conferred upon her the title 'Rani' (Queen).

  5. Who was instrumental in founding the National Planning Committee (the forerunner of the Planning Commission) in 1938, for drawing up a plan of economic development on the basis of industrialization?

    Asked in: WBPSC CS Prelims 2023

    1. Subhas Chandra Bose
    2. Jawaharlal Nehru
    3. Mahatma Gandhi
    4. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Subhas Chandra Bose

    Subhas Chandra Bose, as the then Congress President, initiated the formation of the committee.

  6. Which Congress President set up the National Planning Committee in 1938?

    Asked in: APPSC Panchayat secretary Prelims 2016

    1. Jawaharlal Nehru
    2. Vallabhbhai Patel
    3. Subhash Chandra Bose
    4. Rajendra Prasad
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Subhash Chandra Bose

    - The National Planning Committee was formed in

The Extremist Phase (1905-1919): Causes for rise, ideology, methods, prominent leaders (Lal-Bal-Pal), Surat Split (1907).

  1. The last session of Indian National Congress attended by Bal Gangadhar Tilak was

    Asked in: UPPCS Prelims 2014

    1. Calcutta Session,1906
    2. Surat Session,1907
    3. Culcutta Session,1917
    4. Amritsar Session,1918
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Amritsar Session,1918

    Bal Gangadhar Tilak was actively involved in the Indian National Congress, particularly after his release from prison in 1914. He attended the Lucknow Session in 1916, the Calcutta Session in 1917, and the Amritsar Session in December 1919. He passed away on August 1, 1920, making the Amritsar Session of 1919 his last attended Congress session.

The Moderate Phase (1885-1905): Ideology, methods, key figures, achievements, limitations.

  1. Rajani Palme Dutt said, "They both fought and collaborated with imperialism." Which political grouping was he referring to?

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 64th

    1. The Indian National Congress
    2. The Communist Party of India
    3. The Swaraj Party
    4. Hindustan Socialist Republican Association
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The Indian National Congress

    R. Palme Dutt, a Marxist critic, argued that the Congress, representing the Indian bourgeoisie, adopted a dual strategy: at times opposing British rule to gain concessions or protect domestic interests ("fought") and at other times cooperating or compromising with the British power ("collaborated") to serve their own class interests.

  2. Who established the 'Servants of India Society'?

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 65th

    1. Lala Lajpat Rai
    2. Bipin Chandra Pal
    3. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
    4. Bhagat Singh
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

    The society aimed to train nationalists who would dedicate their lives to the service of the country and promote social and educational advancement. Members had to take a vow of poverty and were trained to serve the country selflessly.

  3. Who was the President of Gaya Session of the Indian National Congress held in 1922 AD?

    Asked in: BPSC Prelims Exam 67th Cancelled

    1. Chittaranjan Das
    2. Hakim Ajmal Khan
    3. Mahatma Gandhi
    4. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Chittaranjan Das

    C. R. Das advocated for council entry at the Gaya session, but when his proposal was defeated, he resigned from the presidency and, along with Motilal Nehru, formed the Swaraj Party.

  4. The popular titles used for Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, Erode Venkata Ramasamy, Vallabh Bhai Patel were respectively :

    Asked in: OPSC CS Prelims 2021

    1. Sher-e-Kashmir, Periyar, Sardar
    2. Sardar, Anna, Sher-e-Punjab
    3. Anna, Sher-e-Punjab, Periyar
    4. Anna, Sher-e-Kashmir, Sher-e-Punjab
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Sher-e-Kashmir, Periyar, Sardar

    Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah was widely known as "Sher-e-Kashmir" (Lion of Kashmir) for his leadership in Jammu and Kashmir. Erode Venkata Ramasamy is affectionately and respectfully called "Periyar" (respected elder or sage) for his contributions to the Self-Respect Movement and social reform in Tamil Nadu. Vallabh Bhai Patel earned the title "Sardar" (leader/chief) during the Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928 for his strong leadership.

  5. Consider the statements regarding the nationalist Romesh Chunder Dutt. 1. He translated Ramayana and Mahabharata. 2. He was president of the Indian National Congress. 3. He qualified the ICS. 4. He was president of the Bongiya Sahitya Parishad. Which of the following statements are correct?

    Asked in: OPSC CS Prelims 2022

    1. 1, 2 and 3
    2. 2, 3 and 4
    3. Only 2 and 3
    4. All are correct
    Show answer

    Answer: D. All are correct

    Romesh Chunder Dutt (R.C. Dutt) was a distinguished Indian civil servant, economic historian, writer, and political figure. He was one of the early Indians to join the Indian Civil Service (ICS). He authored significant works, including influential economic critiques of British rule and condensed English verse translations of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. He was also active in political life, serving as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1899, and contributed to cultural institutions like the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad.

  6. The Indian National Congress represented the views of the microscopic minority in India. The contention was maintained by

    Asked in: WBPSC CS Prelims 2019

    1. Lord Curzon
    2. Lord Elgin
    3. Lord Lansdowne
    4. Lord Dufferin
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Lord Dufferin

    Lord Dufferin, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1884 to 1888, made this statement regarding the Indian National Congress (INC), which was founded in 1885 during his tenure. He dismissed the Congress as representing only a small, educated elite minority and not the vast masses of India, referring to it as a "microscopic minority."

  7. At which session of the Indian National Congress was 'Vande Mataram' sung for the first time?

    Asked in: WBPSC CS Prelims 2019

    1. 1920 session
    2. 1906 session
    3. 1896 session
    4. 1922 session
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 1896 session

    The 1896 Calcutta session of the INC holds the distinction of being the first occasion where 'Vande Mataram' was sung in a political gathering of national significance.