UPSC CSE Prelims
Indian National Congress and Early Nationalists Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

National Handloom Day is observed annually on 7th August to honour handloom weavers and highlight India's handloom industry. The date was specifically chosen to commemorate the launch of the Swadeshi Movement on 7th August 1905 at Calcutta Town Hall, which aimed at reviving domestic products and production processes in protest against the partition of Bengal.

✅ Statement-I – Correct: 7th August is declared as the National Handloom Day, first observed in 2015.
✅ Statement-II – Correct: The Swadeshi Movement was launched on 7th August 1905 at Calcutta Town Hall.

Since the date of National Handloom Day was deliberately chosen to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement's launch, Statement-II correctly explains Statement-I.

📝 Short Notes: Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908)

• Launch Date: 7th August 1905 at Calcutta Town Hall in response to the Partition of Bengal announced by Lord Curzon
• Objective: Boycott of British goods and promotion of Indian-made products (Swadeshi goods) as a form of economic nationalism
• Key Features: Boycott of foreign goods, promotion of indigenous industries (especially handloom textiles), establishment of Swadeshi stores, and mass participation
• Leaders: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh
• Methods: Public meetings, processions, formation of Swadeshi Samitis, use of Swadeshi or indigenous goods, and establishment of national educational institutions
• Impact: First mass movement involving various sections of society; laid foundation for future mass movements and promoted indigenous industries, particularly handlooms
• National Handloom Day: Instituted by Government of India in 2015, celebrated on 7th August to honor the contribution of handloom weavers and the Swadeshi spirit

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Both 1 and 2

The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1911) aimed at promoting indigenous industries and self-reliance by boycotting foreign goods. Both statements correctly capture key aspects of this movement.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Swadeshi Movement led to the revival of indigenous artisan crafts and industries, including handloom weaving, silk industry, and cottage industries, with new cotton mills and textile units being established.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The National Council of Education was founded in Bengal in 1906 as part of the Swadeshi Movement to provide nationalist education and promote science, technology, and industrial education independent of British control.

📝 Short Notes: Swadeshi Movement (1905-1911)

• Background: Launched in response to the Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon, aimed at dividing Bengal along communal lines.
• Economic Aspects: Boycott of British goods, promotion of indigenous industries, revival of handloom and cottage industries, establishment of Swadeshi stores and banks.
• Educational Initiatives: National Council of Education (1906), Bengal National College established with Aurobindo as Principal, promotion of technical and industrial education.
• Cultural Revival: Encouragement of Indian art, literature, music; use of indigenous products in daily life; celebration of national festivals.
• Key Leaders: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal (Lal-Bal-Pal), Aurobindo Ghosh, Rabindranath Tagore (initially).
• Impact: Strengthened nationalist sentiment, laid foundation for mass politics, promoted self-reliance and economic nationalism.
• Limitations: Limited mass appeal beyond Bengal, did not significantly involve peasants and workers, gradually declined after 1908.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — All India Home Rule League

In 1920, the All India Home Rule League changed its name to Swarajya Sabha under the leadership of Bal Gangadhar Tilak's successor. This marked a significant shift towards the goal of achieving Swaraj (self-rule) and aligned with the changing political landscape of the Indian independence movement.

📝 Short Notes: Home Rule Movement and Related Organizations

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Agitation against the Partition of Bengal

The 'Swadeshi' (use of indigenous goods) and 'Boycott' (of British goods and institutions) were first adopted as organized methods of political struggle during the Anti-Partition Movement (1905-1911). When Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905 to divide Hindus and Muslims, it sparked massive protests. Leaders like Surendranath Banerjee, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Lala Lajpat Rai mobilized people to boycott British textiles, promote indigenous industries, and establish Swadeshi enterprises. This movement marked the shift from petitioning to mass mobilization in India's freedom struggle. While earlier leaders had occasionally promoted indigenous goods, the systematic use of Swadeshi and Boycott as political weapons began with this movement. The Home Rule Movement (1916), Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), and Simon Commission protests (1928) came much later and adopted these methods after they had already been established.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government

The Surat Split of 1907 occurred due to fundamental ideological differences between Moderates and Extremists. The Extremists (Tilak, Lal-Bal-Pal) rejected the Moderates' methods of petitions and constitutional agitation, believing they were ineffective in achieving Swaraj, especially after the 1905 Partition of Bengal failed to be reversed through moderate tactics.

The immediate trigger was the disagreement over Congress presidency — Extremists proposed Lala Lajpat Rai while Moderates insisted on Rash Behari Ghosh — leading to a complete organizational split at the Surat session.

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Annie Besant in 1917 (Calcutta Session). Sarojini Naidu became the first Indian woman President in 1925 (Kanpur Session).

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress, presiding over the third session in 1887 (Madras).

Detailed Explanation:

The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908) led to the ideological split in the Indian National Congress between Moderates (Gokhale, Surendranath Banerjee) who favored constitutional methods and Extremists (Lal-Bal-Pal trio - Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal) who advocated aggressive nationalism.

This split culminated in the Surat Session of 1907, where the Congress formally divided over differences in ideology and methodology. The other movements occurred after this split had already taken place.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Rowlatt Act (1919) was based on recommendations of the Sedition Committee headed by Justice Sidney Rowlatt, which investigated revolutionary activities and recommended preventive detention powers.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Gandhi attempted to utilize the organizational networks of the Home Rule Leagues (led by Annie Besant and Tilak) to mobilize support for the Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919), though it wasn't the primary mobilization tool.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Demonstrations against the Simon Commission occurred in 1928, while Rowlatt Satyagraha took place in 1919 – nearly 9 years apart, not coinciding.

Detailed Explanation:

The Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon was annulled in 1911 when King George V announced its reversal at the Delhi Durbar.

The decision was taken due to intense anti-partition agitation and the Swadeshi Movement, which made the partition administratively and politically untenable for the British.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Option 2 – Correct: The 1929 Lahore Session (presided by Jawaharlal Nehru) adopted Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) as the Congress goal, replacing the earlier demand for Dominion Status. January 26, 1930 was declared as Independence Day.

❌ Option 1 – Incorrect: Self-Government (Swaraj) was declared much earlier at the 1906 Calcutta Session.

❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in 1920, not 1929.

❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: Congress decided to boycott the First Round Table Conference (1930); participation in the Second Round Table Conference came only after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931).

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Lahore Session (1929), presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, passed the historic Purna Swaraj resolution declaring complete independence as the goal, and 26th January 1930 was fixed as Independence Day.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The rift between Extremists and Moderates was resolved at the Lucknow Session (1916), not at Lahore (1929). The split had occurred at Surat (1907).

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The two-nation theory was not discussed at the 1929 Lahore Session; it was formally articulated in the Muslim League's Lahore Resolution (1940).

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Dadabhai Naoroji exposed economic exploitation through his Drain of Wealth Theory, demonstrating how Britain drained India's resources via trade imbalances, unrequited exports, home charges, and pensions paid abroad.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Swami Vivekananda and cultural revivalists interpreted ancient Indian texts to restore self-confidence, not Naoroji.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Naoroji focused on political and economic reforms and demanded Indian representation in governance; social reform was not his primary emphasis.

Detailed Explanation:

The Congress ministries resigned in October 1939 as a protest against Viceroy Lord Linlithgow's unilateral decision to declare India a belligerent in World War II without consulting Indian representatives.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Congress had formed ministries in 8 out of 11 provinces after the 1937 elections, and the inability to form ministries elsewhere was not a reason for resignation.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: While a left-wing faction existed, it did not make ministry functioning impossible; ministries were working effectively until the war declaration.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Communal disturbances were not widespread in these provinces at the time of resignation; the sole reason was the war declaration issue.