Congress Sessions — Set 8
Indian History · कांग्रेस अधिवेशन · Questions 71–80 of 80
Who was the longest-serving Congress President before independence?
Correct Answer: C. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
• **Maulana Abul Kalam Azad** = longest-serving Congress President before independence — served **1940–1946** (6 years). • No annual sessions during **World War II (1940–1945)** — his term extended; presided Ramgarh 1940 and Meerut was Kripalani. • Also the **youngest** Congress President (elected in 1923 Delhi session at age 35) — two separate records. • 💡 Jawaharlal Nehru = presided 1929, 1936, 1937 — not longest; Motilal Nehru = presided 1919, 1928; Sardar Patel = presided Karachi 1931 — Maulana Azad served longest 1940–1946.
The song 'Vande Mataram' was first sung at which Congress session?
Correct Answer: B. 1896 Calcutta
• **Vande Mataram** first sung at **1896 Calcutta session** — presided by Rahimtullah Sayani. • Composed by **Bankim Chandra Chatterjee** in his novel **Anandamath (1882)** — Rabindranath Tagore sang it. • First two stanzas became **National Song of India** — adopted on January 24, 1950 by Constituent Assembly. • 💡 1911 Calcutta = Jana Gana Mana first sung; 1886 Calcutta = Dadabhai Naoroji presided (2nd session); 1901 Calcutta = Dinshaw Wacha presided — Vande Mataram was first sung at 1896 Calcutta session.
The national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' was first sung at which session?
Correct Answer: A. 1911 Calcutta
• Jana Gana Mana was first sung at the ****1911 **Calcutta** session. • It was written by Rabindranath Tagore. • The session was presided over by Bishan Narayan Dar. • 💡 **1905 Banaras** = Gokhale presided (Swadeshi); **1920 Nagpur** = linguistic reorganization; **1916 Lucknow** = Lucknow Pact — Jana Gana Mana first sung at **Calcutta 1911**.
In which session did the Congress and Muslim League sign a pact?
Correct Answer: A. Lucknow, 1916
• **Lucknow session (1916)** = Congress and Muslim League signed the historic **Lucknow Pact**. • **Moderate–Extremist reunion** also took place in this session — end of the 1907 Surat split. • A.C. Mazumdar presided the Congress session; Jinnah represented the Muslim League side. • 💡 Calcutta 1917 = Annie Besant; Nagpur 1920 = C. Vijayaraghavachariar; Surat 1907 = split — Lucknow Pact was signed at Lucknow 1916.
Where was the 1931 session held that endorsed the Fundamental Rights resolution?
Correct Answer: D. Karachi
• The **1931 **session was held in **Karachi**. • It is famous for the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and National Economic Programme. • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel presided over it. • 💡 **Bombay** = 1934 session (Rajendra Prasad, CSP formed); **Lahore** = 1929 (Poorna Swaraj); **Delhi** = 1932 (Malaviya elected, banned) — Fundamental Rights session was at **Karachi 1931**.
Who was the first Englishman to preside over a Congress session?
Correct Answer: B. George Yule
• **George Yule** was the first Englishman to become Congress President. • He presided over the **1888 **Allahabad session. • This showed the inclusive nature of the early Congress. • 💡 **A.O. Hume** = founder & General Secretary, never President; **Alfred Webb** = English President but 1894 Madras, not first; **William Wedderburn** = English President but 1889 (after Yule) — **George Yule** was first Englishman, 1888.
In which year was the first session of the Indian National Congress held?
Correct Answer: A. 1885
• The first session was held in December ****1885****. • It took place in Bombay with 72 delegates. • This marked the formal beginning of the Indian National Congress. • 💡 **1887** = 3rd session (Badruddin Tyabji, Madras); **1884** = year before founding; **1886** = 2nd session (Dadabhai Naoroji, Calcutta) — first INC session was **1885**.
Who presided over the 1929 Lahore session?
Correct Answer: A. Jawaharlal Nehru
• **Jawaharlal Nehru** presided over the **1929 **Lahore session. • This session is historic for the Poorna Swaraj resolution. • It marked the transfer of leadership to the younger generation. • 💡 **Motilal Nehru** = presided 1928 Calcutta (Nehru Report); **Mahatma Gandhi** = presided only 1924 Belgaum; **Subhash Chandra Bose** = presided 1938 Haripura — Lahore 1929 was **Jawaharlal Nehru**.
How many delegates attended the first session of the Congress in 1885?
Correct Answer: D. 72
• **72 delegates** attended the **first session (1885, Bombay)**. • They represented **various provinces** of British India. • The session was held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay. • 💡 **82** = inflated figure, incorrect; **52** = too low, incorrect; **62** = too low, incorrect — exactly **72 delegates** attended the first session.
At which Congress session was the 'Poorna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) resolution passed?
Correct Answer: C. Lahore Session, 1929
• The historic Lahore Session of **1929**, presided by Jawaharlal Nehru, passed the Poorna Swaraj resolution demanding complete independence from British rule. • On 26 January **1930**, the declaration was publicly issued, and this date was later chosen as Republic Day. • On 26 January **1930**, the declaration was publicly issued, and this date was later chosen as Republic Day. • 💡 Lucknow 1916 = Lucknow Pact (Hindu-Muslim unity); Karachi 1931 = Fundamental Rights resolution; Calcutta 1928 = Nehru Report — Poorna Swaraj passed at **Lahore 1929**.