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Difficulty: MediumGandhian Era and Major Mass Movements

Which of the following organizational structural changes was adopted by the Indian National Congress at its Nagpur Session in December 1920 under Mahatma Gandhi's leadership to transform the Congress into a mass-based political organization?

  1. Lowering the annual membership subscription fee to four annas to enable rural peasants and urban workers to joinAnswer
  2. B
    Establishing a Parliamentary Board to select candidates for contesting elections under the Government of India Act of 1919
  3. C
    Abolishing the Congress Working Committee to decentralize executive authority completely to district units
  4. D
    Restricting active party membership exclusively to university graduates to maintain disciplined cadre control

Answer

The reduction of the annual Congress membership fee to four annas (25 paise), allowing peasants, workers, and underprivileged sections to become formal members.
At the historic Nagpur Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1920, significant structural changes were adopted under Mahatma Gandhi's guidance. To transform Congress into a real mass political party, the annual membership subscription was reduced to four annas (25 paise). This allowed millions of peasants, workers, and poor citizens to join. Additionally, a 15-member Congress Working Committee (CWC) was created to oversee party affairs throughout the year, and Provincial Congress Committees were reorganized on a linguistic basis to reach non-English speaking masses.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical context of the Indian National Congress (INC) Nagpur Session in December 1920.
The session was held under the presidency of C. Vijayaraghavachariar to ratify the Non-Cooperation Movement strategy proposed by Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi wanted to restructure the INC from a deliberative assembly of urban professionals into an active mass movement organ.
2
Examine the constitutional amendments approved at the Nagpur Session.
Key reforms included lowering the membership fee to four annas per year, setting up a 15-member Congress Working Committee (CWC), and reorganizing Provincial Congress Committees on a linguistic basis.
The four-anna subscription fee removed the financial barrier for poor rural peasants and urban labourers, expanding the party's social base nationwide.

Key Concept

Structural Reorganization of the INC at the Nagpur Session (1920)
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Gandhian Era and Major Mass Movements

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