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Who was the Viceroy of India when the Indian National Congress was formed in 1885?
🏛️ Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
By Priya Sharma · Static GK Expert
50 Questions Indian History
A comprehensive collection of 20 high-quality objective questions covering the history, sessions, and leadership of the Indian National Congress.
2
Who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress held at Bombay in 1885?
3
Who was the first Muslim president of the Indian National Congress?
4
In which session did the Indian National Congress officially adopt the goal of 'Purna Swaraj' or Complete Independence?
5
Who served as the president of the INC for the longest period before independence?
6
The 'Split' between the Moderates and Extremists occurred in which session of the Indian National Congress?
7
Who was the first British person to preside over an Indian National Congress session?
8
In which year did the Moderates and Extremists reunite within the Indian National Congress?
9
Who was the first woman to preside over the Indian National Congress?
10
Who was the first Indian woman to become the president of the Indian National Congress?
11
Which leader was elected as the Congress President in 1939 after defeating Pattabhi Sitaramayya?
12
At which Congress session was the 'Fundamental Rights' resolution passed?
13
Who was the president of the Indian National Congress when the Quit India Movement was launched in 1942?
14
The INC session held at a village for the first time was:
15
Which leader described the Indian National Congress as a 'begging institution'?
16
Who served as the president of the INC at the time of India's independence?
17
Who founded the 'Indian National Union', which later transformed into the Indian National Congress?
18
In which session did the Congress declare 'Swaraj' as its goal for the first time?
19
Who was the president of the Haripura session of the Congress in 1938?
20
Which session of the Congress was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi?
21
Which leader was instrumental in the formation of the Indian National Congress and served as its General Secretary for the first 22 years?
22
In which session did the Indian National Congress accept the use of the term 'Swaraj' for the first time in the presidential address by Dadabhai Naoroji?
23
Which Congress session is historically significant for the formal adoption of the 'National Song' (Vande Mataram) for the first time?
24
Who was the president of the 1916 Lucknow Session, which is famous for the 'Lucknow Pact' between the Congress and the Muslim League?
25
Which Congress session saw the 'National Anthem' (Jana Gana Mana) being sung for the first time?
26
Who was the youngest person to become the President of the Indian National Congress before independence?
27
The resolution on 'National Economic Programme' was adopted in which session of the Congress?
28
Who was the President of the Indian National Congress when the 'Non-Cooperation Movement' was approved in the 1920 Special Session at Calcutta?
29
Which Congress session was held in a rural setting for the first time under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru?
30
Who among the following was never elected as the President of the Indian National Congress?
31
In which year did the Indian National Congress change its constitution to accept the goal of 'Swaraj' through legitimate and peaceful means?
32
Who served as the president of the INC during the 1936 Lucknow session, where the focus shifted to socialist ideology?
33
Who presided over the 1887 Madras session of the INC, becoming the first Muslim to hold the post?
34
Which leader was the President of the Congress during the 1924 Belgaum session, the only session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi?
35
Who was the president of the Congress at the time of the partition of India in 1947?
36
The 'Quit India' resolution was drafted by which leader before it was passed at the 1942 Bombay session?
37
Who presided over the session where the INC rejected the Cripps Mission proposals?
38
Which session of the Congress was marked by the presidential address of Annie Besant in 1917?
39
The 'Independence Pledge' was taken on 26th January 1930, following the resolution passed at which session?
40
Who was the President of the 1905 Banaras session, where the Congress supported the Swadeshi movement?
41
Which prominent leader advocated for the 'Safety Valve Theory' regarding the origin of the Indian National Congress?
42
The Congress session of 1888, presided over by George Yule, was held at which of the following locations?
43
In the 1906 Calcutta session, which four resolutions were passed under the presidency of Dadabhai Naoroji?
44
Which session of the Indian National Congress witnessed the 'New Party' (Extremists) and the 'Old Party' (Moderates) differences becoming publicly visible for the first time over the choice of President?
45
Who was the President of the Indian National Congress session held in 1910 at Allahabad?
46
The 1918 Special Session of the INC, convened to discuss the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, was presided over by:
47
Which leader famously remarked, 'The Congress is tottering to its fall, and one of my great ambitions, while in India, is to assist it to a peaceful demise'?
48
Which Congress session formally adopted the 'Flag of the Indian National Congress' containing the Charkha?
49
Who presided over the 1922 Congress session at Gaya, which saw a split between the Pro-changers and No-changers?
50
The 1925 Kanpur session of the INC is notable for which of the following reasons?
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Important Notes — Indian National Congress
Foundations and Formation of the Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885, in Bombay at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College. It serves as the primary institution through which the Indian freedom struggle was channeled.
Historical Context and Key Figures
- Founder: Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume), a retired British civil servant, played a pivotal role in organizing the first session.
- First President: Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W.C. Bonnerjee) presided over the inaugural session, which was attended by 72 delegates from across India.
- The "Safety Valve" Theory: Often debated in history, this theory suggests that the British allowed the formation of the INC to act as a 'safety valve' to release growing public resentment against colonial rule.
- Early Leadership: The early phase (1885–1905) was dominated by Moderates like Dadabhai Naoroji (the 'Grand Old Man of India'), Surendranath Banerjee, G.K. Gokhale, and Pherozeshah Mehta.
Significant Sessions and Milestones
Exam-relevant questions often focus on specific sessions that defined the party's trajectory and the evolving demands of the Indian nationalist movement.
Important Sessions
- 1887 (Madras): Badruddin Tyabji became the first Muslim President of the INC.
- 1896 (Calcutta): The national song, 'Vande Mataram', was sung for the first time by Rabindranath Tagore.
- 1905 (Banaras): Presided over by G.K. Gokhale; the Congress formally opposed the Partition of Bengal.
- 1907 (Surat Split): The Congress split into two factions—Moderates and Extremists (led by the 'Lal-Bal-Pal' trio: Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal).
- 1911 (Calcutta): The national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', was sung for the first time.
- 1916 (Lucknow): Famous for the Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim League, and the reunion of the Moderate and Extremist factions.
- 1920 (Nagpur): Congress adopted the goal of 'Swaraj' through peaceful and legitimate means.
- 1924 (Belgaum): Mahatma Gandhi presided over this session, the only one he ever headed.
- 1929 (Lahore): Under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress passed the 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) resolution and decided to observe January 26 as Independence Day.
- 1931 (Karachi): Presided over by Vallabhbhai Patel; the session adopted resolutions on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme.
Exam-Oriented Trends
- Women Presidents: Annie Besant (1917, Calcutta) was the first woman president, and Sarojini Naidu (1925, Kanpur) was the first Indian woman president.
- Shift in Strategy: The transition from constitutional agitation (Moderates) to mass movements (Gandhian era) remains a core theme for UPSC and SSC aspirants. Always correlate the session location with the presiding president for objective-type questions.
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About the Author
PS
Priya Sharma Static GK Expert
Indian History · Geography · Polity & Economy Specialist
With 8+ years of teaching static GK for competitive exams, Priya has helped thousands of students master the foundational subjects that appear year after year in UPSC, SSC, and Railway exams. She focuses on making history, geography, and polity approachable through well-structured MCQs and memorable explanations.
