Sessions of Indian National Congress (1885–1947)
Notes for UPSC, JKSSB, JKPSC, SSC, CDS & Other Competitive Examinations by Home Academy
Introduction
The Sessions of Indian National Congress (INC) are one of the most important topics in Modern Indian History. Many important resolutions, movements, and constitutional decisions were taken during these sessions.
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Important Sessions of Indian National Congress
| Year | Place | President | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | Bombay | Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee | First Session of INC |
| 1886 | Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | National expansion |
| 1887 | Madras | Badruddin Tyabji | First Muslim President |
| 1888 | Allahabad | George Yule | First English President |
| 1889 | Bombay | William Wedderburn | Constitutional reforms |
| 1896 | Calcutta | Rahimtulla M. Sayani | Song Vande Mataram sung |
| 1905 | Banaras | Gopal Krishna Gokhale | Opposition to Bengal Partition |
| 1906 | Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | Demand for Swaraj |
| 1907 | Surat | Rash Behari Ghosh | Surat Split (Moderates vs Extremists) |
| 1911 | Calcutta | Bishan Narayan Dhar | Jana Gana Mana sung |
| 1916 | Lucknow | Ambica Charan Mazumdar | Lucknow Pact |
| 1917 | Calcutta | Annie Besant | First woman President |
| 1918 (Special) | Bombay | Syed Hasan Imam | Constitutional discussion |
| 1919 | Amritsar | Motilal Nehru | Jallianwala Bagh aftermath |
| 1920 | Nagpur | C. Vijayaraghavachariar | Reorganization & Non-Cooperation |
| 1924 | Belgaum | Mahatma Gandhi | Only Congress session chaired by Gandhi |
| 1925 | Kanpur | Sarojini Naidu | First Indian woman President |
| 1927 | Madras | M. A. Ansari | Boycott of Simon Commission |
| 1929 | Lahore | Jawaharlal Nehru | Poorna Swaraj Resolution |
| 1931 | Karachi | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel | Fundamental Rights Resolution |
| 1936 | Lucknow | Jawaharlal Nehru | Socialist influence |
| 1938 | Haripura | Subhas Chandra Bose | National Planning Committee |
| 1939 | Tripuri | Subhas Chandra Bose | Bose–Congress conflict |
| 1940 | Ramgarh | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad | Wartime policy |
| 1946 | Meerut | J. B. Kripalani | Pre-independence transition |
Most Important Sessions for Exams
1885 — Bombay
→ First Session
1906 — Calcutta
→ Swaraj declared
1907 — Surat
→ Congress Split
1916 — Lucknow
→ Lucknow Pact
1920 — Nagpur
→ Non-Cooperation
1929 — Lahore
→ Poorna Swaraj
1931 — Karachi
→ Fundamental Rights
1938 — Haripura
→ Subhas Bose
Frequently Asked One-Liners
- First INC Session — Bombay (1885)
- First President — W.C. Bonnerjee
- First Muslim President — Badruddin Tyabji
- First British President — George Yule
- First Woman President — Annie Besant
- First Indian Woman President — Sarojini Naidu
- Gandhi presided only once — Belgaum (1924)
- Poorna Swaraj — Lahore Session (1929)
- Surat Split — 1907
- Fundamental Rights — Karachi Session (1931)
MCQs
Q1. First session of INC was held at:
A. Calcutta
B. Bombay
C. Madras
D. Delhi
Answer: B
Q2. Poorna Swaraj Resolution was passed at:
A. Karachi
B. Lahore
C. Lucknow
D. Surat
Answer: B
Q3. First Indian woman President of INC:
A. Annie Besant
B. Sarojini Naidu
C. Kamaladevi
D. Vijayalakshmi Pandit
Answer: B
Q4. Surat Split took place in:
A. 1905
B. 1906
C. 1907
D. 1908
Answer: C
Statement-Type MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements:
- First session of INC was held in Bombay.
- W.C. Bonnerjee was first President.
- Poorna Swaraj Resolution passed at Lahore.
Choose the correct answer:
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Q2. Consider the following statements:
- Annie Besant was first woman President.
- Gandhi presided only once.
- Karachi Session adopted Fundamental Rights.
Choose the correct answer:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Match the Following
| Session | Event |
|---|---|
| A. Lahore (1929) | 1. Poorna Swaraj |
| B. Surat (1907) | 2. Split |
| C. Karachi (1931) | 3. Fundamental Rights |
| D. Lucknow (1916) | 4. Pact |
Answer
A–1
B–2
C–3
D–4
UPSC / JKSSB Revision Box
✔ 1885 — Bombay — First Session
✔ 1906 — Swaraj
✔ 1907 — Surat Split
✔ 1916 — Lucknow Pact
✔ 1920 — Nagpur Session
✔ 1929 — Poorna Swaraj
✔ 1931 — Fundamental Rights
✔ 1938 — Haripura Session
Most Repeated Exam Areas:
Presidents of sessionsSession places
Important resolutions
Surat Split
Lahore Session 1929
Karachi Resolution 1931