Q60. Who delivered the presidential address at the Congress session of 1887?
[DSSSB TGT Social Science, 7 November 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Badruddin Tyabji
(C) Dadabhai Naoroji
(D) Allan Octavian Hume
Answer: (B) Badruddin Tyabji
Explanation: Badruddin Tyabji presided over the third Indian National Congress session, held in Madras in 1887. He became the first Muslim president of the organisation. His leadership illustrated the founders’ intention to build a political association beyond religious boundaries.
Q59. In which city did the Indian National Congress hold its first session in 1885?
[OSSSC CRE Prelims, 26 October 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Calcutta
(B) Madras
(C) Delhi
(D) Bombay
Answer: (D) Bombay
Explanation: The opening Congress session took place in Bombay, not Calcutta or Pune. W. C. Bonnerjee chaired the December 1885 gathering, attended by seventy-two delegates. The event established a recurring all-India forum for nationalist political petitions and resolutions.
Q58. Which period is conventionally called the Moderate phase of the Indian National Congress?
[OSSSC CRE Prelims, 10 October 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 1895–1920
(B) 1875–1910
(C) 1865–1915
(D) 1885–1905
Answer: (D) 1885–1905
Explanation: The years from the Congress foundation in 1885 to approximately 1905 are generally designated the Moderate phase. Leaders such as Naoroji, Gokhale and Mehta relied on constitutional means, administrative criticism and demands for representation rather than militant mass action.
Q57. At which Congress session was Subhas Chandra Bose first elected its president?
[OSSSC CRE Prelims, 8 October 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Allahabad
(B) Lahore
(C) Haripura
(D) Surat
Answer: (C) Haripura
Explanation: Subhas Chandra Bose was elected Congress president at Haripura in 1938. The session was held in Gujarat. He supported national planning and a more assertive independence strategy, later winning re-election at Tripuri in 1939 amid political controversy.
Q56. Which of these were Moderate leaders: 1. Naoroji; 2. Gokhale; 3. Pherozeshah Mehta; 4. Surendranath Banerjee?
[IB ACIO Grade-II, 16 September 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Only 1 and 2
(B) All four
(C) Only 1 and 3
(D) Only 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (B) All four
Explanation: All four were associated with the Moderate tradition, which advocated constitutional agitation, publicity campaigns and gradual reforms. Naoroji highlighted economic exploitation; Gokhale pressed administrative and educational improvements; Mehta and Banerjee strengthened political organisation and public opinion.
Q55. Place these political associations in chronological order: Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1), Indian Association (2), Madras Mahajan Sabha (3), Bombay Presidency Association (4).
[UPSC CDS-II General Knowledge, 14 September 2025]
(A) 1, 2, 3, 4
(B) 4, 3, 2, 1
(C) 1, 2, 4, 3
(D) 3, 4, 1, 2
Answer: (A) 1, 2, 3, 4
Explanation: The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha originated in 1870, the Indian Association in 1876, the Madras Mahajan Sabha in 1884 and the Bombay Presidency Association in 1885. Their development shows how regional political organisations prepared the way for an all-India Congress.
Q54. In which year was the Indian National Congress founded?
[RRB MI Junior Translator Hindi, 11 September 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 1905
(B) 1885
(C) 1895
(D) 1875
Answer: (B) 1885
Explanation: The Congress was founded in December 1885 through the initiative of Allan Octavian Hume and Indian public leaders. Its first meeting in Bombay was chaired by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee. The new organisation coordinated constitutional political activity across provinces.
Q53. Which event marked the formal division of Congress into Moderate and Extremist camps?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 9 September 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Surat session
(B) Arrival of Simon Commission
(C) Partition of Bengal
(D) Formation of Muslim League
Answer: (A) Surat session
Explanation: The Congress formally split at its 1907 Surat session. Although the 1905 partition of Bengal intensified differences, the organisational break occurred later. The immediate dispute concerned political methods and leadership between the Moderate and Extremist wings.
Q52. Which political technique most closely represents the early Moderates?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 7 August 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Armed revolution
(B) Guerrilla warfare
(C) Petitions and prayers
(D) Secret military training
Answer: (C) Petitions and prayers
Explanation: Moderates relied on petitions, memorials, public meetings and constitutional discussions to press the colonial government for reforms. They hoped to persuade British politicians through evidence and argument. Their approach contrasted with later campaigns of mass boycott and direct action.
Q51. For what Congress-related contribution is Badruddin Tyabji especially remembered?
[BPSC District Statistical Officer, 3 August 2025]
(A) Chairing Lahore Congress in 1929
(B) Founding the Forward Bloc
(C) Becoming the first Muslim president of Congress
(D) Launching the Aligarh Movement
Answer: (C) Becoming the first Muslim president of Congress
Explanation: Badruddin Tyabji became the first Muslim president of the Indian National Congress when he chaired its Madras session in 1887. He also helped establish the Bombay Presidency Association, illustrating his important role in pre-Congress and early-Congress politics.
Q50. Who presided over the 1886 Calcutta Congress session that demanded simultaneous civil-service examinations?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 20 June 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Badruddin Tyabji
(B) Dadabhai Naoroji
(C) W. C. Bonnerjee
(D) Surendranath Banerjee
Answer: (B) Dadabhai Naoroji
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji chaired the second Congress session in Calcutta in 1886. Early nationalists demanded that Indian Civil Service examinations be held simultaneously in India and England so Indian candidates would not face the expense and disadvantage of travelling abroad.
Q49. Consider: (a) Congress was founded in 1885 by A. O. Hume; (b) its first session was held at Pune under W. C. Bonnerjee. Which is correct?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 5 June 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Only (b)
(B) Only (a)
(C) Neither statement
(D) Both statements
Answer: (B) Only (a)
Explanation: The founding year and A. O. Hume’s organising role are correctly stated. However, the first session was actually held in Bombay in December 1885 under Bonnerjee, not Pune. The proposed meeting place had been changed before the gathering.
Q48. Which was NOT among the main demands of the early Congress Moderates?
[AP Police Constable Mains, 1 June 2025]
(A) More legislative council representation
(B) Greater Indian share in public services
(C) Reduction of excessive land revenue
(D) Immediate complete independence
Answer: (D) Immediate complete independence
Explanation: The early Moderates pressed for financial relief, representative councils and Indianisation of administration. Immediate Purna Swaraj was not their initial objective; complete independence was adopted as the formal Congress goal much later, at the Lahore session in 1929.
Q47. After the Surat division, who chaired the Moderates’ Allahabad convention to reorganise Congress?
[MPPSC Assistant Professor History, 1 June 2025]
(A) Madan Mohan Malaviya
(B) Surendranath Banerjee
(C) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(D) Dadabhai Naoroji
Answer: (B) Surendranath Banerjee
Explanation: Following the 1907 Surat split, the Moderate leadership attempted to rebuild Congress organisation on constitutional lines. The Allahabad convention referred to in this paper was chaired by Surendranath Banerjee, a major early nationalist and founder of the Indian Association.
Q46. Where did Moderate leaders want the Indian Civil Service examinations to be held simultaneously?
[RPF Constable, 9 March 2025, Shift 2]
(A) India and Canada
(B) India and England
(C) India and Australia
(D) India and the United States
Answer: (B) India and England
Explanation: Moderate leaders argued that conducting the examination only in Britain disadvantaged Indian candidates. Holding it simultaneously in India and England would reduce travel barriers and help Indianise the civil services, a key administrative demand of early nationalists.
Q45. Which group criticised the early Moderates for a policy of political mendicancy?
[RPF Constable, 5 March 2025, Shift 1]
(A) British officials
(B) Socialists
(C) Extremists
(D) Constitutionalists
Answer: (C) Extremists
Explanation: The Extremist faction considered repeated petitions and appeals to British rulers insufficient for national advancement. They described this dependence as mendicancy and advocated more assertive tactics, including Swadeshi, boycott and public mobilisation, culminating in the 1907 organisational conflict.
Q44. At which Congress session did the Moderates and Extremists split?
[RPF SI CBT-I, 3 December 2024, Shift 3]
(A) Lahore
(B) Calcutta
(C) Allahabad
(D) Surat
Answer: (D) Surat
Explanation: The split took place at Surat in December 1907. Its disputes reflected divisions over presidential choice and methods of resistance to British rule. The Congress later reunited its factions at the 1916 Lucknow session under Ambica Charan Mazumdar.
Q43. Which Congress session was presided over by Sarojini Naidu?
[SSC MTS, 13 November 2024, Shift 2]
(A) Lahore, 1929
(B) Karachi, 1931
(C) Kanpur, 1925
(D) Madras, 1927
Answer: (C) Kanpur, 1925
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu chaired the 1925 Kanpur session, becoming the first Indian woman president of Congress. Annie Besant had earlier become its first woman president at Calcutta in 1917. Distinguishing those two milestones is essential to interpreting such questions.
Q42. Who presided over the Benares Congress session of 1905?
[SSC MTS, 21 October 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Subhas Chandra Bose
(C) Jawaharlal Nehru
(D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Answer: (D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation: Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a leading Moderate, chaired the 1905 Benares session. It took place in the year of Bengal’s partition, when nationalist methods were becoming contentious. Gokhale continued to advocate reasoned political demands and constitutional reforms.
Q41. Match Congress sessions with presidents: Bombay 1885 (1), Calcutta 1896 (2), Surat 1907 (3), Kanpur 1925 (4); (a) Sayani, (b) R. B. Ghosh, (c) Sarojini Naidu, (d) W. C. Bonnerjee.
[SSC MTS, 17 October 2024, Shift 1]
(A) 1-d, 2-a, 3-c, 4-b
(B) 1-d, 2-b, 3-a, 4-c
(C) 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a
(D) 1-d, 2-a, 3-b, 4-c
Answer: (D) 1-d, 2-a, 3-b, 4-c
Explanation: Bonnerjee chaired Bombay in 1885; Rahimtullah M. Sayani chaired Calcutta in 1896; Rash Behari Ghosh presided over Surat in 1907; Sarojini Naidu chaired Kanpur in 1925. Matching all four pairings identifies option four.
