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India Cluster94 Verified Questions
Indian National Congress: Sessions & Presidents GK Questions & Answers
Founded in December 1885 by retired British civil servant Allan Octavian Hume alongside 72 delegates in Bombay, the Indian National Congress (INC) served as the principal political vehicle for India’s anti-colonial struggle. Presided over by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee in its inaugural session at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, the Congress evolved from an era of Moderate constitutional petitioning (under Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Pherozeshah Mehta) to Extremist mass mobilization (led by Lal-Bal-Pal). Landmark annual sessions shaped national destiny: the 1906 Calcutta session declaring Swaraj, the 1907 Surat Split, the 1916 Lucknow Pact cementing Congress-League cooperation, the 1924 Belgaum session (the only session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi), the historic 1929 Lahore session declaring Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence), and the 1931 Karachi session adopting resolutions on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
The INC was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay, with W.C. Bonnerjee as its first President and 72 delegates attending.
Dadabhai Naoroji ("Grand Old Man of India") presided over three INC sessions (1886, 1893, 1906) and was the first to proclaim "Swaraj" from the Congress platform.
Annie Besant became the first woman President of the INC at the 1917 Calcutta session; Sarojini Naidu became the first Indian woman President at Kanpur 1925.
Mahatma Gandhi presided over the INC exactly once, at the 1924 Belgaum session in Karnataka.
The 1929 Lahore Session, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, passed the Poorna Swaraj resolution, leading to the observance of Independence Day on January 26, 1930.
Showing 25 Curated Questions94 Total in Bank
1ID: GK-HIST-00929
easyIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
Who was the first Indian-born woman to preside over an annual session of the Indian National Congress at the 1925 Kanpur Session?
Verified Explanation
Sarojini Naidu presided over the 40th annual session of the Indian National Congress at Kanpur in 1925, becoming the first Indian woman Congress President (Annie Besant was the first woman president in 1917, though British-born). She later served as the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh in independent India.
2ID: GK-HIST-01031
hardIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
At the historic Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress in March 1931, who authored the original draft of the landmark Resolution on Fundamental Rights and National Economic Programme?
Verified Explanation
At the Karachi Congress (March 1931) presided over by Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru drafted the pioneering Resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme (with inputs from M. N. Roy). The resolution guaranteed universal adult franchise, fundamental civil liberties, state control of key industries and mineral resources, and relief for agricultural debtors, shaping the Directive Principles of the Indian Constitution.
3ID: GK-HIST-00240
mediumFreedom Struggle & National Movement
In which year and session did the Indian National Congress declare 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) as its ultimate goal under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru?
Verified Explanation
The historic Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1929 passed the Purna Swaraj resolution and unfurled the tricolour on the banks of River Ravi on 31 December 1929.
4ID: GK-HIST-00273
mediumFreedom Struggle & National Movement
The historic "Lucknow Pact" of 1916 brought about a political alliance between the Indian National Congress and which other organisation?
Verified Explanation
The Lucknow Pact of December 1916 was a joint agreement between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League to present joint constitutional demands to the British.
5ID: GK-HIST-00281
mediumFreedom Struggle & National Movement
Who was the President of the Indian National Congress at its historic 1929 Lahore Session where the "Purna Swaraj" resolution was adopted?
Verified Explanation
Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1929, where the resolution declaring Complete Independence (Purna Swaraj) was passed.
6ID: GK-HIST-00297
hardFreedom Struggle & National Movement
Who was the sole representative of the Indian National Congress at the Second Round Table Conference held in London in 1931?
Verified Explanation
Following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931, Mahatma Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference in London as the sole official delegate of the Indian National Congress.
7ID: GK-HIST-00501
mediumFreedom Struggle & National Movement
Who among the following presided over the historic Belgaum session of the Indian National Congress in December 1924?
Verified Explanation
The 39th annual session of the Indian National Congress held at Belgaum (Belagavi) in 1924 was the only INC session ever presided over by Mahatma Gandhi.
8ID: GK-HIST-00557
mediumFreedom Struggle & National Movement
Who among the following was elected President of the Indian National Congress at the historic 1929 Lahore Session where 'Purna Swaraj' was declared?
Verified Explanation
Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the December 1929 Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, which adopted the Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution.
9ID: GK-HIST-00738
hardIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
At the 1938 Haripura Session of the Indian National Congress presided over by Subhas Chandra Bose, which pioneering body was constituted to prepare a socio-economic blueprint for free India?
Verified Explanation
Subhas Chandra Bose established the National Planning Committee (NPC) during the 1938 Haripura Congress session and appointed Jawaharlal Nehru as its Chairman, laying early foundations for independent India's planned industrialization and state-led economic development.
10ID: GK-HIST-00927
easyIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
At which historic annual session of the Indian National Congress held in December 1929 was the landmark resolution for 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) officially passed under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru?
Verified Explanation
The Lahore Session of the Congress in December 1929 declared Purna Swaraj as the ultimate national goal. On midnight of 31 December 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the tricolor on the banks of the Ravi River, and 26 January 1930 was celebrated nationwide as Independence Day.
11ID: GK-HIST-00933
mediumIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
At the 1931 Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which landmark resolution drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru was officially adopted?
Verified Explanation
Meeting shortly after the execution of Bhagat Singh and the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the 1931 Karachi Congress adopted the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme. It guaranteed civil liberties, universal adult franchise, labor protections, and state ownership of key industries.
12ID: GK-HIST-00825
easyIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
Which local farmer from Champaran approached Mahatma Gandhi at the 1916 Lucknow Session of the Indian National Congress to invite him to investigate the plight of indigo cultivators?
Verified Explanation
Raj Kumar Shukla, an indigo cultivator from Bettiah in Champaran, persistently pursued Mahatma Gandhi at the Lucknow Congress (1916) and later in Calcutta, convincing him to visit Bihar. Gandhi's inquiry in 1917 led to the abolition of the exploitative Tinkathia system (compulsory cultivation of indigo on 3/20th of land).
13ID: GK-HIST-00827
easyIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
Who founded the Swaraj Party within the Indian National Congress in January 1923 to enter legislative councils and contest colonial governance from within?
Verified Explanation
Following the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement, leaders split into 'No-Changers' (led by Rajagopalachari and Patel) and 'Pro-Changers' (led by C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru). In January 1923, Das (President) and Nehru (Secretary) formed the Congress-Khilafat Swaraj Party to enter legislatures and obstruct bureaucratic policies.
14ID: GK-HIST-00835
hardIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
Why did both the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League reject the proposals brought by the Cripps Mission in March-April 1942?
Verified Explanation
Sir Stafford Cripps offered post-war Dominion Status and a constituent assembly where princely states were represented by nominees rather than elected representatives. Congress rejected the non-accession clause allowing provinces to secede (which Gandhi termed a 'post-dated cheque on a crashing bank') and the lack of immediate transfer of defence power. The League rejected it because it did not explicitly concede sovereign Pakistan.
15ID: GK-HIST-00931
mediumIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
The historic 'Lucknow Pact' of December 1916, which forged a joint political agreement between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League, was signed during the Congress presidency of which veteran leader?
Verified Explanation
At the 31st annual session of the Congress held in Lucknow under the presidency of Ambica Charan Mazumdar, the Moderate and Extremist factions reunited. Concurrently, the Congress and Muslim League agreed on a joint scheme of constitutional reforms, accepting separate electorates for Muslims.
16ID: GK-HIST-00935
hardIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
At the tumultuous 1907 Surat Session of the Indian National Congress where the party experienced an open split between Moderates and Extremists, who was the official Congress President presiding over the session?
Verified Explanation
The 23rd session of the Congress convened on the banks of the Tapti River in Surat in December 1907. Amid sharp ideological clashes over Swaraj and Boycott resolutions, Moderate leader Dr. Rash Behari Ghosh presided as the session descended into pandemonium, resulting in the expulsion of the Extremists led by Tilak.
17ID: GK-HIST-00938
hardIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
At the 1939 Tripuri Session of the Indian National Congress, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose secured re-election as Congress President by defeating which official candidate sponsored by Mahatma Gandhi?
Verified Explanation
In the January 1939 presidential election, Subhas Chandra Bose polled 1,580 votes against Pattabhi Sitaramayya's 1,377 votes. Mahatma Gandhi declared Sitaramayya's defeat as his own personal defeat, leading to executive deadlocks over the Congress Working Committee and Bose's eventual resignation to form the Forward Bloc.
18ID: GK-HIST-00727
easyIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
Who presided over the historic Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1929, where the declaration of 'Poorna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) was officially adopted?
Verified Explanation
Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the historic December 1929 Lahore Session where the INC passed the Poorna Swaraj resolution, unfurled the tricolour flag on the banks of the Ravi River on December 31, and resolved to celebrate January 26, 1930 as Independence Day.
19ID: GK-HIST-00830
mediumIndian Freedom Struggle & National Movement
What major ideological and strategic division caused the Surat Split in the Indian National Congress in December 1907?
Verified Explanation
At the 1907 Surat session, Extremists (led by Tilak, Pal, and Lajpat Rai) sought to expand the Swadeshi boycott to all of India and encompass all colonial institutions, while proposing Lala Lajpat Rai or Tilak for President. Moderates (led by Pherozeshah Mehta and Gokhale) insisted on confining boycott to Bengal and elected Rash Behari Ghosh, resulting in an institutional split.
20ID: GK-HIST-00077
easyFreedom Struggle
Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress at its inaugural session in Bombay in 1885?
Verified Explanation
W. C. Bonnerjee presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay in December 1885.
21ID: GK-HIST-00619
mediumFreedom Struggle & National Movement
Who presided over the historic 1916 Lucknow Session of the Indian National Congress where the Lucknow Pact between Congress and the Muslim League was concluded?
Verified Explanation
Ambica Charan Mazumdar presided over the 31st session of the INC at Lucknow in December 1916, which witnessed the reunification of Moderates and Extremists and the joint declaration with the All-India Muslim League.
22ID: GK-HIST-00640
hardFreedom Struggle & National Movement
The Congress Socialist Party (CSP) was founded in 1934 within the Indian National Congress by Jayaprakash Narayan, Minoo Masani, and which founding President?
Verified Explanation
The Congress Socialist Party was formally inaugurated in October 1934 at Patna and Bombay, with Acharya Narendra Deva as its President and Jayaprakash Narayan as its General Secretary.
23ID: GK-HIST-00373
mediumFreedom Struggle & National Movement
The Indian National Congress passed the historic 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) resolution in 1929 at which session?
Verified Explanation
The Lahore Session of December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, passed the Purna Swaraj declaration and decided to celebrate 26 January 1930 as Independence Day.
24ID: GK-HIST-00425
easyFreedom Struggle & National Movement
At which session of the Indian National Congress in 1929 was the historic resolution for 'Poorna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) passed?
Verified Explanation
The Lahore Session of December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, officially adopted the resolution declaring Complete Independence (Poorna Swaraj) as Congress's goal.
25ID: GK-HIST-00444
mediumFreedom Struggle & National Movement
Who founded the Swaraj Party within the Indian National Congress in January 1923 following the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Verified Explanation
Chittaranjan Das (as President) and Motilal Nehru (as Secretary) founded the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party in January 1923 to enter legislative councils and obstruct British policy from within.