🟢 Early Phase (1885–1905)
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.Question: Where was the second INC session held in 1886?
Answer: Calcutta – Presided by Dadabhai Naoroji. It saw wider participation from different regions.Question: Who was the first Muslim president of INC?
Answer: Badruddin Tyabji – Presided over the 1887 Madras Session, showing INC’s secular outlook.Question: Who was the first English president of INC?
Answer: George Yule – Presided over the 1888 Allahabad Session, indicating British liberals’ support.Question: Who presided over the 1890 INC session?
Answer: Pherozeshah Mehta – Known as the ‘Lion of Bombay,’ he was an important moderate leader.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.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.”Question: Which session was presided by Gopal Krishna Gokhale?
Answer: 1905 Banaras Session – Gokhale emphasized constitutional reforms and opposed extremism.Question: Which issue dominated the 1905 Banaras Session?
Answer: Partition of Bengal – A major turning point in India’s freedom struggle.Question: Who presided over the 1904 Bombay Session?
Answer: Henry Cotton – He strongly supported Indian self-government.
🟢 Moderate vs Extremist Phase (1906–1916)
Question: Who presided over the 1906 Calcutta Session?
Answer: Dadabhai Naoroji – He declared “Swaraj as the goal of INC” for the first time.Question: What happened at the 1907 Surat Session?
Answer: The Congress split into Moderates (Gokhale) and Extremists (Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai).Question: Who presided over the Surat Session in 1907?
Answer: Rash Behari Ghosh – He attempted to balance both groups, but the split was inevitable.Question: Which session adopted the fourfold programme – Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott, and National Education?
Answer: 1906 Calcutta Session under Dadabhai Naoroji.Question: Who presided over the 1911 Calcutta Session?
Answer: Bishan Narayan Dhar – It coincided with the Delhi Durbar of George V.Question: Which session was famous for the reunion of Moderates and Extremists?
Answer: 1916 Lucknow Session – Both groups reunited under Annie Besant’s efforts.Question: Who presided over the 1916 Lucknow Session?
Answer: Ambika Charan Majumdar – The session also witnessed the Lucknow Pact with Muslim League.Question: Which pact was signed at the Lucknow Session of 1916?
Answer: The Lucknow Pact between INC and Muslim League, ensuring Hindu–Muslim unity.Question: Who presided over the 1915 Bombay Session?
Answer: S.P. Sinha – The first Indian member of the British House of Lords.Question: Who presided over the 1910 Allahabad Session?
Answer: Sir William Wedderburn – A British liberal leader sympathetic to Indian nationalism.
🟢 Gandhian Era (1919–1935)
Question: Who presided over the 1919 Amritsar Session?
Answer: Motilal Nehru – The session condemned the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Rowlatt Act.Question: Which session launched the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: 1920 Nagpur Session under C. Vijayaraghavachariar – Gandhi’s programme was adopted.Question: Who presided over the 1920 Nagpur Session?
Answer: C. Vijayaraghavachariar – The INC was reorganized on linguistic basis.Question: Where was the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation issue discussed?
Answer: 1920 Nagpur Session – Gandhi united Hindus and Muslims.Question: Who presided over the 1924 Belgaum Session?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi – The only session presided over by Gandhi.Question: Who presided over the 1927 Madras Session?
Answer: M.A. Ansari – It strongly condemned the Simon Commission.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.Question: Who presided over the 1929 Lahore Session?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru – He represented the younger radical leadership.Question: What was decided in the 1931 Karachi Session?
Answer: Fundamental Rights and National Economic Programme were adopted after Gandhi–Irwin Pact.Question: Who presided over the Karachi Session of 1931?
Answer: Vallabhbhai Patel – Known as the “Iron Man of India.”Question: Which session welcomed the Government of India Act, 1935, with criticism?
Answer: 1936 Lucknow Session under Jawaharlal Nehru – He opposed compromises.Question: Who presided over the 1936 Lucknow Session?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru – He emphasized socialism.Question: Who presided over the 1938 Haripura Session?
Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose – Advocated radical policies.Question: Which session saw Bose’s re-election and subsequent resignation?
Answer: 1939 Tripuri Session – Due to differences with Gandhians.Question: Who presided over the 1939 Tripuri Session?
Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose – He resigned later and formed Forward Bloc.
🟢 Towards Independence (1940–1947)
Question: Which session passed the ‘Individual Satyagraha’ resolution?
Answer: 1940 Ramgarh Session under Abul Kalam Azad.Question: Who was the president of INC during Quit India Movement (1942)?
Answer: Abul Kalam Azad – He led during this crucial phase.Question: Which session adopted the Quit India Resolution?
Answer: Bombay, August 1942 – The call was “Do or Die.”Question: Where was the last session of INC before independence held?
Answer: Meerut, 1946 – Presided by Acharya J.B. Kripalani.Question: Who presided over the 1946 Meerut Session?
Answer: J.B. Kripalani – Known as “Acharya,” he guided INC before partition.