📘 Indian National Congress Sessions – 100 GK Questions & Answers

🟢 Early Phase (1885–1905)

  1. Question: Who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress in 1885?
    Answer: W.C. Bonnerjee – The session was held at Bombay with 72 delegates. It marked the beginning of organized nationalist politics in India.

  2. Question: Where was the second INC session held in 1886?
    Answer: Calcutta – Presided by Dadabhai Naoroji. It saw wider participation from different regions.

  3. Question: Who was the first Muslim president of INC?
    Answer: Badruddin Tyabji – Presided over the 1887 Madras Session, showing INC’s secular outlook.

  4. Question: Who was the first English president of INC?
    Answer: George Yule – Presided over the 1888 Allahabad Session, indicating British liberals’ support.

  5. Question: Who presided over the 1890 INC session?
    Answer: Pherozeshah Mehta – Known as the ‘Lion of Bombay,’ he was an important moderate leader.

  6. Question: Which session is known as the “Economic Critique of British Rule” session?
    Answer: 1893 Lahore Session under Dadabhai Naoroji, where he presented his Drain of Wealth theory.

  7. Question: Who presided over the 1899 Lucknow Session?
    Answer: Romesh Chunder Dutt – A critic of British economic policies and author of “Economic History of India.”

  8. Question: Which session was presided by Gopal Krishna Gokhale?
    Answer: 1905 Banaras Session – Gokhale emphasized constitutional reforms and opposed extremism.

  9. Question: Which issue dominated the 1905 Banaras Session?
    Answer: Partition of Bengal – A major turning point in India’s freedom struggle.

  10. Question: Who presided over the 1904 Bombay Session?
    Answer: Henry Cotton – He strongly supported Indian self-government.


🟢 Moderate vs Extremist Phase (1906–1916)

  1. Question: Who presided over the 1906 Calcutta Session?
    Answer: Dadabhai Naoroji – He declared “Swaraj as the goal of INC” for the first time.

  2. Question: What happened at the 1907 Surat Session?
    Answer: The Congress split into Moderates (Gokhale) and Extremists (Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai).

  3. Question: Who presided over the Surat Session in 1907?
    Answer: Rash Behari Ghosh – He attempted to balance both groups, but the split was inevitable.

  4. Question: Which session adopted the fourfold programme – Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott, and National Education?
    Answer: 1906 Calcutta Session under Dadabhai Naoroji.

  5. Question: Who presided over the 1911 Calcutta Session?
    Answer: Bishan Narayan Dhar – It coincided with the Delhi Durbar of George V.

  6. Question: Which session was famous for the reunion of Moderates and Extremists?
    Answer: 1916 Lucknow Session – Both groups reunited under Annie Besant’s efforts.

  7. Question: Who presided over the 1916 Lucknow Session?
    Answer: Ambika Charan Majumdar – The session also witnessed the Lucknow Pact with Muslim League.

  8. Question: Which pact was signed at the Lucknow Session of 1916?
    Answer: The Lucknow Pact between INC and Muslim League, ensuring Hindu–Muslim unity.

  9. Question: Who presided over the 1915 Bombay Session?
    Answer: S.P. Sinha – The first Indian member of the British House of Lords.

  10. Question: Who presided over the 1910 Allahabad Session?
    Answer: Sir William Wedderburn – A British liberal leader sympathetic to Indian nationalism.


🟢 Gandhian Era (1919–1935)

  1. Question: Who presided over the 1919 Amritsar Session?
    Answer: Motilal Nehru – The session condemned the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Rowlatt Act.

  2. Question: Which session launched the Non-Cooperation Movement?
    Answer: 1920 Nagpur Session under C. Vijayaraghavachariar – Gandhi’s programme was adopted.

  3. Question: Who presided over the 1920 Nagpur Session?
    Answer: C. Vijayaraghavachariar – The INC was reorganized on linguistic basis.

  4. Question: Where was the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation issue discussed?
    Answer: 1920 Nagpur Session – Gandhi united Hindus and Muslims.

  5. Question: Who presided over the 1924 Belgaum Session?
    Answer: Mahatma Gandhi – The only session presided over by Gandhi.

  6. Question: Who presided over the 1927 Madras Session?
    Answer: M.A. Ansari – It strongly condemned the Simon Commission.

  7. Question: Where was the demand for Poorna Swaraj raised for the first time?
    Answer: 1929 Lahore Session under Jawaharlal Nehru – 26th January was declared Independence Day.

  8. Question: Who presided over the 1929 Lahore Session?
    Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru – He represented the younger radical leadership.

  9. Question: What was decided in the 1931 Karachi Session?
    Answer: Fundamental Rights and National Economic Programme were adopted after Gandhi–Irwin Pact.

  10. Question: Who presided over the Karachi Session of 1931?
    Answer: Vallabhbhai Patel – Known as the “Iron Man of India.”

  11. Question: Which session welcomed the Government of India Act, 1935, with criticism?
    Answer: 1936 Lucknow Session under Jawaharlal Nehru – He opposed compromises.

  12. Question: Who presided over the 1936 Lucknow Session?
    Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru – He emphasized socialism.

  13. Question: Who presided over the 1938 Haripura Session?
    Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose – Advocated radical policies.

  14. Question: Which session saw Bose’s re-election and subsequent resignation?
    Answer: 1939 Tripuri Session – Due to differences with Gandhians.

  15. Question: Who presided over the 1939 Tripuri Session?
    Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose – He resigned later and formed Forward Bloc.


🟢 Towards Independence (1940–1947)

  1. Question: Which session passed the ‘Individual Satyagraha’ resolution?
    Answer: 1940 Ramgarh Session under Abul Kalam Azad.

  2. Question: Who was the president of INC during Quit India Movement (1942)?
    Answer: Abul Kalam Azad – He led during this crucial phase.

  3. Question: Which session adopted the Quit India Resolution?
    Answer: Bombay, August 1942 – The call was “Do or Die.”

  4. Question: Where was the last session of INC before independence held?
    Answer: Meerut, 1946 – Presided by Acharya J.B. Kripalani.

  5. Question: Who presided over the 1946 Meerut Session?
    Answer: J.B. Kripalani – Known as “Acharya,” he guided INC before partition.



🟢 Towards Independence (continued)

  1. Question: Who was the president of the INC during the Quit India Resolution of 1942?
    Answer: Abul Kalam Azad – He guided the INC during its most militant movement against the British.

  2. Question: In which session was the resolution against the Communal Award passed?
    Answer: 1932 Bombay Session – The INC opposed separate electorates but later accepted Poona Pact.

  3. Question: Who was the INC president at the time of the Poona Pact (1932)?
    Answer: Madan Mohan Malaviya – He played a key role in compromise between Gandhi and Ambedkar.

  4. Question: Which session discussed the failure of Round Table Conferences?
    Answer: 1932 Delhi Session – INC criticized British insincerity.

  5. Question: Who presided over the 1945 Bombay Session?
    Answer: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad – He led during the end of WWII and negotiations with Britain.

  6. Question: What was decided in the 1946 Meerut Session?
    Answer: To participate in Constituent Assembly elections and frame India’s Constitution.

  7. Question: Who was the last British President of INC?
    Answer: George Yule in 1888 Allahabad Session – After him, only Indians presided except Annie Besant (1917).

  8. Question: Who presided over the 1947 Meerut Session?
    Answer: Acharya J.B. Kripalani – The last session before independence.

  9. Question: Which session first discussed Dominion Status?
    Answer: 1928 Calcutta Session under Motilal Nehru’s report – It demanded Dominion Status within 2 years.

  10. Question: What was declared at the 1929 Lahore Session?
    Answer: Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) – 26th January was observed as Independence Day.


🟢 Important Leaders as INC Presidents

  1. Question: Who was the first Parsi President of INC?
    Answer: Dadabhai Naoroji – Known as the “Grand Old Man of India.”

  2. Question: Who was called the “Prince of Beggars” for raising funds for INC?
    Answer: Badruddin Tyabji – The first Muslim president of INC (1887).

  3. Question: Who presided over the Banaras Session of 1905?
    Answer: Gopal Krishna Gokhale – A moderate leader who influenced Gandhi.

  4. Question: Who was the youngest president of INC?
    Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru at the 1929 Lahore Session (aged 40).

  5. Question: Who was the first woman president of INC?
    Answer: Annie Besant in 1917 Calcutta Session.

  6. Question: Who was the first Indian woman president of INC?
    Answer: Sarojini Naidu in 1925 Kanpur Session.

  7. Question: Which leader presided over the Lucknow Session of 1936?
    Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru – He emphasized socialism and anti-fascism.

  8. Question: Who presided over the Lahore Session of 1929 where Poorna Swaraj was declared?
    Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru.

  9. Question: Who presided over the Karachi Session of 1931?
    Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – Fundamental Rights were declared.

  10. Question: Who presided over the Haripura Session of 1938?
    Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose – Advocated radical economic policies.


🟢 Landmark Sessions with Major Decisions

  1. Question: Which session passed the resolution on Fundamental Rights and National Economic Policy?
    Answer: Karachi Session of 1931 under Patel.

  2. Question: Which session gave the call for “Do or Die”?
    Answer: Bombay Session, August 1942 – Quit India Movement.

  3. Question: Which session was associated with the boycott of Simon Commission?
    Answer: 1927 Madras Session under M.A. Ansari.

  4. Question: Which session witnessed the split of Congress into Moderates and Extremists?
    Answer: 1907 Surat Session.

  5. Question: Which session is associated with the Lucknow Pact?
    Answer: 1916 Lucknow Session – Unity of INC and Muslim League.

  6. Question: Which session is called the “Swaraj as the Goal” session?
    Answer: 1906 Calcutta Session under Dadabhai Naoroji.

  7. Question: Which session reorganized INC on linguistic basis?
    Answer: 1920 Nagpur Session under C. Vijayaraghavachariar.

  8. Question: Which session adopted the Non-Cooperation Movement?
    Answer: 1920 Nagpur Session.

  9. Question: Which session condemned the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?
    Answer: 1919 Amritsar Session under Motilal Nehru.

  10. Question: Which session declared Poorna Swaraj?
    Answer: 1929 Lahore Session under Nehru.


🟢 INC and British Acts

  1. Question: Which session rejected the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms?
    Answer: 1918 Bombay Session under Hasan Imam.

  2. Question: Which session criticized the Government of India Act, 1919?
    Answer: 1920 Nagpur Session.

  3. Question: Which session discussed the Government of India Act, 1935?
    Answer: 1936 Lucknow Session under Nehru.

  4. Question: Which session accepted participation in provincial elections under the 1935 Act?
    Answer: 1937 Faizpur Session under Nehru.

  5. Question: Which session opposed the Cripps Mission proposals (1942)?
    Answer: Bombay Session of 1942.

  6. Question: Which session opposed the Wavell Plan (1945)?
    Answer: 1945 Bombay Session under Azad.

  7. Question: Which session welcomed Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) with reservations?
    Answer: 1946 Meerut Session under Kripalani.

  8. Question: Which session rejected Simon Commission?
    Answer: 1927 Madras Session.

  9. Question: Which session accepted Dominion Status as an immediate goal?
    Answer: 1928 Calcutta Session.

  10. Question: Which session opposed partition of India?
    Answer: 1946 Meerut Session – INC was against partition until the Mountbatten Plan.


🟢 Miscellaneous Facts

  1. Question: How many delegates attended the first INC session?
    Answer: 72 delegates in Bombay, 1885.

  2. Question: Where was the 1889 INC Session held?
    Answer: Bombay – Presided over by Sir William Wedderburn.

  3. Question: Who presided over the 1899 Lucknow Session?
    Answer: Romesh Chunder Dutt.

  4. Question: Who presided over the 1901 Calcutta Session?
    Answer: Dinshaw Wacha.

  5. Question: Who presided over the 1902 Ahmedabad Session?
    Answer: Surendranath Banerjee.

  6. Question: Which session was presided over by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1918?
    Answer: Delhi Session – Opposed separate electorates.

  7. Question: Which session was presided over by Hasan Imam?
    Answer: 1918 Special Session at Bombay.

  8. Question: Which session saw participation of Subhas Chandra Bose as President?
    Answer: 1938 Haripura and 1939 Tripuri.

  9. Question: Who presided over the 1924 Belgaum Session?
    Answer: Mahatma Gandhi – His only presidency.

  10. Question: Which INC session passed the resolution on Civil Disobedience?
    Answer: Lahore Session of 1929.


🟢 Final Phase before Independence

  1. Question: Who presided over the Ramgarh Session of 1940?
    Answer: Abul Kalam Azad.

  2. Question: Which session was held during World War II?
    Answer: Ramgarh Session of 1940.

  3. Question: Who presided over the Tripuri Session of 1939?
    Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose.

  4. Question: Who presided over the 1937 Faizpur Session?
    Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru – It was the first rural session of INC.

  5. Question: Which session demanded a Constituent Assembly?
    Answer: 1936 Lucknow Session under Nehru.

  6. Question: Who presided over the 1925 Kanpur Session?
    Answer: Sarojini Naidu – First Indian woman president.

  7. Question: Who presided over the 1917 Calcutta Session?
    Answer: Annie Besant – First woman president of INC.

  8. Question: Which session criticized the Rowlatt Act?
    Answer: 1919 Amritsar Session.

  9. Question: Which session first used the term “Swaraj”?
    Answer: 1906 Calcutta Session.

  10. Question: Which was the last session of INC before Independence?
    Answer: 1947 Meerut Session under J.B. Kripalani.

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