Q80. Which statement best describes the role of Gopal Krishna Gokhale in the early Indian national movement?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 20 June 2026, Shift 3]
(A) He pursued constitutional reforms through moderate methods and was Gandhi’s political mentor
(B) He led the Salt March of 1930 against the salt tax
(C) He organised an armed revolutionary campaign against British rule
(D) He founded the Swaraj Party in 1923
Answer: (A) He pursued constitutional reforms through moderate methods and was Gandhi’s political mentor
Explanation: Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a leading Moderate who believed in representative institutions, administrative reform and reasoned constitutional pressure. He founded the Servants of India Society in 1905 and influenced Gandhi’s early political thought; he neither led the Salt March nor founded the Swaraj Party.
Q79. Which measure was central to the non-cooperation programme adopted at the Calcutta Congress session in 1920?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 16 June 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Entry into councils to negotiate reforms
(B) Boycott of schools, courts and councils, with promotion of khadi
(C) Trade negotiations with imperial authorities
(D) Creation of armed village guards
Answer: (B) Boycott of schools, courts and councils, with promotion of khadi
Explanation: At its special Calcutta session in September 1920, presided over by Lala Lajpat Rai, Congress supported non-cooperation against colonial institutions. Boycotting schools, courts and legislative councils was intended to withdraw popular support from British administration through non-violent means.
Q78. Why were the earliest Congress leaders of 1885–1905 described as Moderates?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 14 June 2026, Shift 1]
(A) They favoured underground resistance
(B) They rejected discussion and petitions
(C) They sought reforms through constitutional petitions and dialogue
(D) They called for immediate independence through violent confrontation
Answer: (C) They sought reforms through constitutional petitions and dialogue
Explanation: Moderate nationalists believed that public discussion, memorials, petitions and constitutional demands could secure administrative reforms. Their programme focused on representation, civil rights and fairer governance; mass agitation and militant resistance became more prominent among later nationalist factions.
Q77. On which date was the Indian National Congress founded?
[DSSSB Court Attendant, 2 June 2026, Shift 1]
(A) 2 October 1892
(B) 15 August 1874
(C) 28 December 1885
(D) 26 January 1845
Answer: (C) 28 December 1885
Explanation: The Indian National Congress began its first meeting on 28 December 1885 in Bombay, now Mumbai. Allan Octavian Hume helped organise the gathering, while Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee presided. Its foundation created an all-India political platform for early nationalist demands.
Q76. At which Congress session was the objective of Purna Swaraj adopted?
[UPSSSC Lekhpal Mains, 21 May 2026]
(A) Karachi, 1931
(B) Lahore, 1929
(C) Lucknow, 1916
(D) Surat, 1907
Answer: (B) Lahore, 1929
Explanation: At the Lahore session of December 1929, with Jawaharlal Nehru as president, the Congress adopted complete independence as its goal. The declaration represented a shift beyond dominion status, and 26 January 1930 was observed as Independence Day.
Q75. Which reformer is especially associated with the founding of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 7 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Gopal Hari Deshmukh
(B) Mahadev Govind Ranade
(C) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(D) Dadabhai Naoroji
Answer: (B) Mahadev Govind Ranade
Explanation: Mahadev Govind Ranade is closely linked with the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, established in 1870 with figures such as Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi. The body sought to represent public grievances and mediate between ordinary people and colonial administration in western India.
Q74. Who was the first president of the Indian National Congress?
[DSSSB MTS, 28 April 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Dadabhai Naoroji
(B) Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee
(C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(D) Surendranath Banerjee
Answer: (B) Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee
Explanation: Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee, a barrister from Bengal, presided over the inaugural Bombay session of December 1885. Allan Octavian Hume helped organise the Congress but was not its first president. Dadabhai Naoroji presided over the subsequent Calcutta session in 1886.
Q73. In which year did Dadabhai Naoroji become a vice-president of the Bombay Presidency Association?
[DSSSB MTS, 19 April 2026, Shift 2]
(A) 1886
(B) 1906
(C) 1892
(D) 1885
Answer: (D) 1885
Explanation: The Bombay Presidency Association was organised in 1885 by leaders including Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji and K. T. Telang. Naoroji was associated with its early leadership. Such regional political associations helped prepare the organisational ground for the Indian National Congress.
Q72. Arrange these events: (a) Tilak’s Home Rule League, (b) INC foundation, (c) Surat Split, (d) Swadeshi Movement.
[UPHESC Assistant Professor (History), 19 April 2026, Shift 1]
(A) c, b, d, a
(B) d, b, c, a
(C) b, c, d, a
(D) b, d, c, a
Answer: (D) b, d, c, a
Explanation: Congress was founded in 1885, followed by the Swadeshi Movement after Bengal’s partition in 1905. The Surat division between Moderates and Extremists occurred in 1907, while Bal Gangadhar Tilak began his Home Rule League in 1916.
Q71. Arrange chronologically: (I) INC foundation, (II) Bengal partition, (III) Swadeshi Movement, (IV) Lucknow Pact.
[UPHESC Assistant Professor (Sociology), 18 April 2026, Shift 1]
(A) II, I, III, IV
(B) I, III, II, IV
(C) I, II, III, IV
(D) II, III, I, IV
Answer: (C) I, II, III, IV
Explanation: The Congress was established in 1885. The 1905 partition of Bengal triggered the Swadeshi movement, and the Congress–Muslim League Lucknow Pact followed in 1916. Remembering these historical milestones provides the sequence I, II, III and IV.