MCQs on “Formation of the Indian National Congress: Early Nationalism”
- Who is considered the founder of the Indian National Congress (INC)?
- a) Mahatma Gandhi
- b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- c) A.O. Hume
- d) Dadabhai Naoroji
Answer: c) A.O. Hume
- In which year was the Indian National Congress founded?
- a) 1885
- b) 1905
- c) 1919
- d) 1920
Answer: a) 1885
- Where was the first session of the Indian National Congress held?
- a) Bombay
- b) Calcutta
- c) Madras
- d) Lahore
Answer: a) Bombay
- Who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress in 1885?
- a) Dadabhai Naoroji
- b) W.C. Bonnerjee
- c) Surendranath Banerjee
- d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Answer: b) W.C. Bonnerjee
- Which British official is believed to have encouraged the formation of the Indian National Congress?
- a) Lord Curzon
- b) Lord Ripon
- c) Lord Lytton
- d) Lord Dalhousie
Answer: b) Lord Ripon
- What was the primary objective of the Indian National Congress in its early years?
- a) Complete independence from British rule
- b) Promotion of social reforms
- c) Establishment of self-rule through constitutional means
- d) Armed struggle against British rule
Answer: c) Establishment of self-rule through constitutional means
- Which social group dominated the Indian National Congress in its initial phase?
- a) Peasants
- b) Industrialists
- c) Lawyers and professionals
- d) Trade unions
Answer: c) Lawyers and professionals
- The Indian National Congress was initially formed to act as a platform for:
- a) Religious unity
- b) Agricultural reforms
- c) Socialism
- d) Political dialogue with the British
Answer: d) Political dialogue with the British
- Which of the following was not one of the early demands of the Indian National Congress?
- a) Reduction of military expenditure
- b) Promotion of education
- c) Complete independence from Britain
- d) Expansion of legislative councils
Answer: c) Complete independence from Britain
- The Indian National Congress in its early years was considered to represent primarily:
- a) The working class
- b) The British government’s interests
- c) The educated Indian elite
- d) The royal families
Answer: c) The educated Indian elite
- The initial sessions of the Indian National Congress were attended by delegates from which sections of society?
- a) Farmers and laborers
- b) Industrialists and businessmen
- c) Educated middle-class Indians
- d) Royalty and nobility
Answer: c) Educated middle-class Indians
- Which prominent leader is known as the “Grand Old Man of India” and played a major role in the early years of the Congress?
- a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- b) Lala Lajpat Rai
- c) Dadabhai Naoroji
- d) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: c) Dadabhai Naoroji
- The demand for Indian representation in the British government was initially placed by the Congress through:
- a) Armed struggle
- b) Petitioning and diplomacy
- c) Boycotts and protests
- d) None of the above
Answer: b) Petitioning and diplomacy
- In which city was the second session of the Indian National Congress held in 1886?
- a) Madras
- b) Calcutta
- c) Bombay
- d) Lahore
Answer: b) Calcutta
- Which of the following leaders did not belong to the early moderate phase of the Indian National Congress?
- a) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- b) Aurobindo Ghosh
- c) Dadabhai Naoroji
- d) W.C. Bonnerjee
Answer: b) Aurobindo Ghosh
- What was the primary method of protest advocated by early Congress leaders?
- a) Civil disobedience
- b) Armed rebellion
- c) Petition and constitutional methods
- d) Strikes and protests
Answer: c) Petition and constitutional methods
- Who among the following was not an early leader of the Indian National Congress?
- a) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- c) Subhas Chandra Bose
- d) Pherozeshah Mehta
Answer: c) Subhas Chandra Bose
- Which of the following was an early demand of the Congress regarding the Legislative Councils?
- a) Complete dissolution of councils
- b) Indianization of legislative councils
- c) Formation of parallel legislative bodies
- d) Abolishment of councils
Answer: b) Indianization of legislative councils
- Which British Viceroy implemented the Indian Councils Act of 1892 as a result of Congress’ demands?
- a) Lord Lytton
- b) Lord Dufferin
- c) Lord Ripon
- d) Lord Lansdowne
Answer: d) Lord Lansdowne
- What was the key issue that divided the early moderates and the extremists within the Congress?
- a) Economic policy
- b) Use of constitutional methods vs. direct action
- c) Role of women in politics
- d) Religious reforms
Answer: b) Use of constitutional methods vs. direct action
- Who among the following was considered a moderate leader in the early Congress?
- a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- b) Lala Lajpat Rai
- c) Dadabhai Naoroji
- d) Bipin Chandra Pal
Answer: c) Dadabhai Naoroji
- What was the dominant theme of the Congress’ early resolutions?
- a) Total independence
- b) Political and administrative reforms
- c) Violent rebellion
- d) Industrial development
Answer: b) Political and administrative reforms
- Which of the following leaders is associated with the extremist phase of the Congress?
- a) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- b) Surendranath Banerjee
- c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- d) W.C. Bonnerjee
Answer: c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- Which slogan is attributed to Bal Gangadhar Tilak?
- a) Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it
- b) Jai Hind
- c) Quit India
- d) Vande Mataram
Answer: a) Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it
- The demand for “Swaraj” (self-rule) first appeared in which Congress session?
- a) 1885
- b) 1905
- c) 1906
- d) 1916
Answer: c) 1906
- Which leader of the Congress was also known for his work on the “Drain Theory” regarding British economic exploitation?
- a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- b) Lala Lajpat Rai
- c) Dadabhai Naoroji
- d) Aurobindo Ghosh
Answer: c) Dadabhai Naoroji
- The Surat Split of 1907 was a division between which two groups within the Congress?
- a) Socialists and Communists
- b) Moderates and Extremists
- c) Hindus and Muslims
- d) Liberals and Conservatives
Answer: b) Moderates and Extremists
- Who presided over the Surat session of the Indian National Congress in 1907, where the split occurred?
- a) Dadabhai Naoroji
- b) Aurobindo Ghosh
- c) Rash Behari Bose
- d) Rash Behari Ghosh
Answer: d) Rash Behari Ghosh
- The early moderates of Congress were often criticized for their policy of:
- a) Armed struggle
- b) Petition and persuasion
- c) Promoting violence
- d) Collaboration with the British
Answer: b) Petition and persuasion
- Which of the following Congress leaders is known for the phrase, “Swaraj is my birthright”?
- a) Mahatma Gandhi
- b) Lala Lajpat Rai
- c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- d) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
These multiple-choice questions cover key events, figures, and ideas related to the formation of the Indian National Congress and the early phase of Indian nationalism.
