BPSC CCE Prelims
Indian National Congress and Early Nationalists Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Indian National Congress and Early Nationalists
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Who became the President of Indian National Congress when Subhash Chandra Bose resigned in 1939 ?
Detailed Explanation:
Subhash Chandra Bose resigned as Congress President in April 1939 after conflicts with the Congress Working Committee and Mahatma Gandhi.
Rajendra Prasad was elected as President of the Indian National Congress to fill the vacancy left by Bose's resignation, serving from 1939 to 1940.
Prasad had previously served as Congress President in 1934 and was a trusted associate of Gandhi, having led the Champaran Satyagraha (1917) and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Who was the first Muslim President of Indian National Congress ?
Detailed Explanation:
Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim president of the Indian National Congress, presiding over the third session in Madras (1887).
Hasrat Mohani never served as INC president; Maulana Azad became president much later (1940–1946).
Which Congress leader visited Bihar in 1918 in order to strengthen the activities of Home Rule League?
Detailed Explanation:
Annie Besant visited Bihar in 1918 to strengthen the Home Rule League activities, expanding the movement beyond her southern India base (started 1916).
B.G. Tilak led the Home Rule League in Maharashtra, not Bihar; Mahatma Gandhi was in Champaran in 1917 for agrarian issues, not the Home Rule League in 1918; M.A. Ansari was not associated with this specific visit.
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Who was the President of the Indian National Congress at the Gaya Session of 1922?
Detailed Explanation:
Chittaranjan Das was elected President of the Indian National Congress at the Gaya Session in December 1922.
The session witnessed a major debate between Pro-Changers (led by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru), who favored entering legislative councils, and No-Changers (led by Vallabhbhai Patel and Rajendra Prasad), who opposed it; Das later resigned and formed the Swaraj Party in 1923.
Which Indian leader for the first time used the 'safety-valve theory to attack the Moderates in the Congress?
Detailed Explanation:
Lala Lajpat Rai was the first Indian leader to use the Safety-Valve Theory to criticize the Moderates in the Indian National Congress.
The theory, proposed by W.C. Bonnerjee and A.O. Hume, suggested that the Congress was created by the British to act as a safety valve to release anti-British sentiments peacefully and prevent another 1857-like uprising.
Lala Lajpat Rai used this theory in his criticism to argue that the Moderates were serving British interests rather than genuinely fighting for Indian independence.
The political strategy Struggle-Truce-Struggle or S-T-S came into prominence with a call for
Detailed Explanation:
The Struggle-Truce-Struggle (S-T-S) strategy was formulated by Mahatma Gandhi during the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22).
The strategy involved phases of active struggle (satyagraha), followed by temporary truce (negotiations), and resumption of struggle if demands were not met. This tactical approach came into prominence specifically with the Khilafat issue, where Gandhi used it to build Hindu-Muslim unity and pressure the British government regarding the Turkish Caliphate.
Who was the President of the Indian National Congress at the Patna Session held in 1912?
Detailed Explanation:
The 27th session of the Indian National Congress was held in Patna, Bihar in December 1912.
Rao Bahadur Raghunath Narasinha Mudholkar (also spelled R. N. Madhulkar) presided over this session as a prominent moderate leader and lawyer from Nagpur.
He emphasized constitutional methods for achieving self-governance and advocated for cooperation with the British while demanding greater Indian representation in government.
The Swadeshi and Boycott were adopted as the methods of struggle for the first time during the
Detailed Explanation:
Swadeshi and Boycott movements were first adopted as methods of struggle during the Partition of Bengal (1905).
The anti-partition agitation led by moderates like Surendranath Banerjee and extremists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularized these methods—Swadeshi promoted indigenous goods while Boycott targeted British products and institutions, making them defining features of the Bengal partition protest.
At the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress (INC) held in 1906, the Flag of Swaraj for India was unfurled by
Detailed Explanation:
The Flag of Swaraj was unfurled by Dadabhai Naoroji at the Calcutta Session of INC in 1906.
This session is also significant as it marked the emergence of the extremist faction in the Congress and the famous four resolutions on Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott, and National Education were passed.
In which Session Indian National Congress passed Complete Independence Resolution?
Detailed Explanation:
The Indian National Congress passed the Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution at its 1929 Lahore session under Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency. This session declared complete independence as the goal, fixed 26 January 1930 as the first Independence Day, and authorized civil disobedience.
The 1924 Belgaon session focused on Hindu-Muslim unity, 1931 Karachi outlined fundamental rights, and 1920 Nagpur adopted non-cooperation—none passed the Complete Independence resolution.
Therefore, 1929 AD Lahore is the correct answer, making Option 2 correct.
Who has said about Bengal Partition, “The partition announcement fell like a bomb shell”?
Detailed Explanation:
Surendra Nath Banerjee, a prominent nationalist leader, famously described the 1905 Bengal Partition announcement by stating "The partition announcement fell like a bomb shell", capturing the shock and outrage felt across Bengal.
Announced on 20 July 1905 under Viceroy Lord Curzon and implemented on 16 October 1905, the partition was seen as a British divide-and-rule tactic that triggered the Swadeshi and Boycott movements. It was eventually reversed in 1911.
Therefore, Surendra Nath Bannerjee made this famous statement, making Option 4 the correct answer.
The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was
Detailed Explanation:
Annie Besant became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1917 at the Calcutta session, leading during a critical phase of India's freedom struggle.
Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman President (1925), Kasturba Gandhi was a freedom fighter but never held the position, and Aruna Asaf Ali was famous for hoisting the flag during Quit India Movement but was not Congress President.
Therefore, Annie Besant was the first woman President, making Option 2 the correct answer.
Who was the President of Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress held in 1929 AD?
Detailed Explanation:
The 1929 Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, making it one of the most historic sessions in the freedom struggle.
At this session, the Congress adopted the goal of Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) and decided to celebrate 26th January 1930 as Independence Day. This marked a decisive shift from Dominion Status demands to complete independence.
Therefore, Jawaharlal Nehru was the President, making Option 3 the correct answer.
Who was the President of Gaya Session of the Indian National Congress held in 1922 AD?
Detailed Explanation:
Chittaranjan Das presided over the 37th Session of the Indian National Congress held at Gaya in December 1922. This session was significant as it marked the beginning of the Swaraj Party debate, with Das and Motilal Nehru advocating for council entry, while Gandhi opposed it.
Hakim Ajmal Khan presided over the 1921 Ahmedabad session, Gandhi never presided over any INC session, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad presided much later in 1923 (Delhi Special Session) and 1940 (Ramgarh).
Therefore, Chittaranjan Das presided over the Gaya Session (1922), making Option 1 the correct answer.