Modern India — Important Congress Sessions
1. Early Congress Sessions (1885-1909)
Context: The early sessions of the Indian National Congress laid the foundation for the nationalist movement, with moderate leaders advocating for constitutional reforms and greater Indian representation.
| Year | Place | President | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | Bombay | W.C. Banerjee | 1st session, attended by 72 delegates |
| 1886 | Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | Witnessed merger of INC and National Conference |
| 1887 | Madras | Badruddin Tyabji | Appeal to Muslims to join INC |
| 1888 | Allahabad | George Yule | 1st non-Indian President of INC |
| 1896 | Calcutta | Rahimatullah M. Sayani | National song "Vande Mataram" sung for the first time |
| 1905 | Benaras | Gopal Krishna Gokhale | Resentment against Bengal partition; boycott of foreign goods; promotion of Swadeshi |
| 1906 | Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | Word "Swaraj" mentioned for the first time |
| 1907 | Surat | Rash Behari Ghosh | Congress split between moderates and extremists |
| 1908 | Madras | Rash Behari Ghosh | The Constitution of INC drawn |
| 1909 | Lahore | Madan Mohan Malviya | Disapproval of separate electorates based on religion (Indian Councils Act, 1909) |
Knowledge Nugget
The word "Swaraj" was mentioned for the first time at the 1906 Calcutta session by Dadabhai Naoroji. This marked a significant shift in the Congress's political vocabulary, moving from mere constitutional demands to the aspiration of self-rule.
The word "Swaraj" was mentioned for the first time at the 1906 Calcutta session by Dadabhai Naoroji. This marked a significant shift in the Congress's political vocabulary, moving from mere constitutional demands to the aspiration of self-rule.
2. Congress Sessions (1911-1924)
Context: This period witnessed the reunification of moderates and extremists, the emergence of new leadership, and the beginning of mass-based movements.
| Year | Place | President | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | Calcutta | Bishan Narayan Dar | National Anthem, "Jana Gana Mana," sung for the first time |
| 1916 | Lucknow | A.C. Majumdar | Reunification of Moderates and Extremists; Lucknow Pact between Muslim League and INC; Death of Gokhale and Pherozshah Mehta |
| 1917 | Calcutta | Annie Besant | First woman to preside the Congress session |
| 1919 | Amritsar | Motilal Nehru | New constitution of INC framed; Condemned Jallianwala Bagh massacre; Approved Khilafat movement |
| 1920 | Calcutta | Lala Lajpat Rai | Special Session; Non-Cooperation Movement moved and adopted |
| 1920 | Nagpur | C. Vijayaraghavachariar | Reconstitution of Congress committees on linguistic grounds |
| 1922 | Gaya | C.R. Das | CR Das and other leaders broke away and formed Swaraj Party; CR Das presided while in jail |
| 1923 | Delhi | Maulana Azad | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad became the youngest president of INC |
| 1924 | Belgaum | M.K. Gandhi | Only session where Gandhiji presided |
Knowledge Nugget
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad became the youngest President of the Indian National Congress at the age of 35 during the 1923 Delhi session. Annie Besant was the first woman to preside over a Congress session in 1917, followed by Sarojini Naidu as the first Indian woman president in 1925.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad became the youngest President of the Indian National Congress at the age of 35 during the 1923 Delhi session. Annie Besant was the first woman to preside over a Congress session in 1917, followed by Sarojini Naidu as the first Indian woman president in 1925.
3. Congress Sessions (1925-1946)
Context: The later sessions witnessed the rise of mass movements, the declaration of Purna Swaraj, and the final phase of the freedom struggle leading to independence.
| Year | Place | President | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Kanpur | Sarojini Naidu | First Indian women president of INC |
| 1927 | Madras | M.A. Ansari | Resolution against using Indian troops in Mesopotamia, Iran, and China; Resolution to boycott Simon Commission |
| 1928 | Calcutta | Motilal Nehru | 1st All India Youth Congress Formed |
| 1929 | Lahore | Jawaharlal Nehru | Adopted resolution for Purna Swaraj |
| 1931 | Karachi | Vallabh Bhai Patel | Endorsed Gandhi Irwin Pact; Resolution of Fundamental Rights and National Economic Programme |
| 1934 | Bombay | Rajendra Prasad | INC Constitution amended |
| 1936 | Faizpur | Jawaharlal Nehru | Push towards socialist ideas by Nehru; 1st session in a village |
| 1938 | Haripura | Subhas Chandra Bose | National Planning Committee set under Nehru |
| 1939 | Tripuri | Subhas Chandra Bose | Rajendra Prasad took over as president after Subhas Chandra resigned |
| 1940 | Ramgarh | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad | Decision to take final call on launching mass civil disobedience left to Mahatma Gandhi |
| 1946 | Meerut | Acharya J.B. Kripalani | Last Session before Independence |
Knowledge Nugget
The 1936 Faizpur session was historic as it was the first Congress session held in a village. Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency marked a shift towards socialist ideas within the Congress, setting the stage for the party's future ideological direction.
The 1936 Faizpur session was historic as it was the first Congress session held in a village. Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency marked a shift towards socialist ideas within the Congress, setting the stage for the party's future ideological direction.
4. Summary: Key Congress Sessions
| Year | Place | President | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | Bombay | W.C. Banerjee | First Session |
| 1906 | Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | Word "Swaraj" mentioned for the first time |
| 1907 | Surat | Rash Behari Ghosh | Congress Split (Moderates vs Extremists) |
| 1916 | Lucknow | A.C. Majumdar | Reunification; Lucknow Pact |
| 1917 | Calcutta | Annie Besant | First woman president |
| 1924 | Belgaum | M.K. Gandhi | Only session presided by Gandhi |
| 1929 | Lahore | Jawaharlal Nehru | Purna Swaraj resolution |
| 1931 | Karachi | Vallabh Bhai Patel | Fundamental Rights Resolution; Gandhi-Irwin Pact endorsed |
| 1946 | Meerut | J.B. Kripalani | Last Session before Independence |
Key Takeaways for UPSC
- 1885: First Session (Bombay, W.C. Banerjee)
- 1906: "Swaraj" mentioned first time (Calcutta, Dadabhai Naoroji)
- 1907: Surat Split (Moderates vs Extremists)
- 1916: Lucknow Pact; Reunification
- 1917: Annie Besant - First woman president
- 1924: Only session presided by Gandhi (Belgaum)
- 1929: Purna Swaraj resolution (Lahore, Jawaharlal Nehru)
- 1931: Karachi Session - Fundamental Rights Resolution
- 1938: Haripura - National Planning Committee set up
- 1946: Meerut - Last session before independence
High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Chapter 22 Focus)
Q1. The first session of the Indian National Congress was held in which year and place?
Correct Answer: B. The first session of the Indian National Congress was held in 1885 at Bombay, presided over by W.C. Banerjee, with 72 delegates in attendance.
Q2. The word "Swaraj" was mentioned for the first time at which Congress session?
Correct Answer: B. The word "Swaraj" was mentioned for the first time at the 1906 Calcutta session, presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji.
Q3. The Congress split between moderates and extremists occurred at which session?
Correct Answer: C. The Congress split between moderates and extremists occurred at the Surat session in 1907, presided over by Rash Behari Ghosh.
Q4. Who was the first woman president of the Indian National Congress?
Correct Answer: B. Annie Besant was the first woman to preside over a Congress session in 1917 at Calcutta. Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman president in 1925.
Q5. The Lucknow Pact between the Muslim League and INC was signed at which session?
Correct Answer: C. The Lucknow Pact between the Muslim League and INC was signed at the 1916 Lucknow session, presided over by A.C. Majumdar.
Q6. Only session where Mahatma Gandhi presided over the INC was at:
Correct Answer: C. The only session where Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Indian National Congress was at the 1924 Belgaum session.
Q7. The Purna Swaraj resolution was adopted at which Congress session?
Correct Answer: C. The Purna Swaraj resolution was adopted at the 1929 Lahore session, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru.
Q8. The Fundamental Rights Resolution was passed at which Congress session?
Correct Answer: B. The Fundamental Rights Resolution was passed at the 1931 Karachi session, presided over by Vallabh Bhai Patel.
Q9. The National Planning Committee was set up at which Congress session?
Correct Answer: B. The National Planning Committee was set up under Nehru at the 1938 Haripura session, presided over by Subhas Chandra Bose.
Q10. The last Congress session before independence was held at:
Correct Answer: B. The last Congress session before independence was held in 1946 at Meerut, presided over by Acharya J.B. Kripalani.