Non-Cooperation & Civil Disobedience — Set 15

Correct Answer: C. A mass nonviolent campaign of withdrawal of cooperation from British institutions

The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) is best described as a mass nonviolent campaign of withdrawal of cooperation from British institutions — courts, schools, legislative councils, and foreign goods. It was Gandhi's first large-scale application of satyagraha in India on a national level. The movement was remarkable for its breadth of participation across regions, communities, and social classes.

Correct Answer: B. Rajendra Prasad

Rajendra Prasad, who later became the first President of India, participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement by giving up his legal practice as part of the boycott of British courts. He also participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement. His participation in successive Gandhian movements made him one of Gandhi's most loyal lieutenants.

Correct Answer: C. December 1929

The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress was held in December 1929, specifically on the banks of the River Ravi. The session passed the Purna Swaraj resolution on December 26, 1929 and fixed January 26, 1930 as Independence Day. The midnight session at the turn of December 31, 1929 to January 1, 1930 was a particularly dramatic moment.

Correct Answer: B. Reduce military expenditure to at least half

One of Gandhi's 11 demands in his letter to Viceroy Irwin was to reduce military expenditure to at least half. India bore a disproportionate share of Britain's imperial military costs. Reducing military expenditure was an economic demand that connected to the broader issue of India subsidising British imperialism.

Correct Answer: C. Simon Commission

The correct answer is Simon Commission. The Simon Commission report, published in June 1930, was considered wholly inadequate by Indian nationalists as it made no recommendation for dominion status or significant self-governance. The Congress had already launched the Civil Disobedience Movement with the Dandi March (March 1930) even before the report was published, indicating how little faith they had in the Commission. This topic is frequently tested in competitive examinations such as RRB NTPC, SSC, and UPSC.

Correct Answer: B. Jamia Millia Islamia (1920)

Jamia Millia Islamia was founded in 1920 at Aligarh as a national institution during the Non-Cooperation Movement, in response to Gandhi's call to boycott government educational institutions. It was founded by Mohamed Ali, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and others. The institution moved to Delhi in 1925 and became a central university in 1988.

Correct Answer: C. Motilal Nehru and CR Das

Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das strongly criticised Gandhi's decision to suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement following Chauri Chaura, with many calling it an unnecessary retreat at a moment when the movement was at its strongest. C.R. Das reportedly said the movement was being abandoned at its peak. The criticism was so strong that Gandhi was arrested and imprisoned shortly after, partly to diffuse tensions.

Correct Answer: B. Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru was a committed Gandhian follower during both the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements, going to jail numerous times. Nehru's radicalism and energy made him Gandhi's political heir. His participation in the Dandi March era, presiding over the Lahore Session, and involvement in the CDM cemented his position as India's future leader.

Correct Answer: B. Namak Andolan / Salt Satyagraha

The Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930 is popularly known in India as Namak Andolan (Salt Movement) or Salt Satyagraha, after the iconic Dandi March and salt law violation that launched it. While the broader movement included many other forms of civil disobedience, the salt issue gave the movement its most recognisable symbol. The name captures the ingenious choice of salt as the vehicle for mass mobilisation.

Correct Answer: B. It passed through remote villages, bringing the nationalist message to ordinary people

The Dandi March passed through ordinary villages of rural Gujarat, bringing the nationalist message directly to peasants and ordinary Indians. Gandhi held meetings in villages along the route, explaining why Indians should disobey the salt law. This direct contact between the national movement's leadership and rural populations was deliberate and transformative.