Examkin

Question

Difficulty: Very hardRise of Indian Nationalism and Early Phase of the Indian National Congress

With reference to the early phase of the Indian National Congress (INC) and pre-Congress political associations, consider the following statements:

1. The Indian Association, established by Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose in 1876, spearheaded a nationwide agitation against the reduction of the upper age limit for the Indian Civil Service examination.
2. The inaugural session of the Indian National Congress held at Bombay in December 1885 was presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji.
3. Early Moderate nationalists used the economic critique known as the 'Drain of Wealth' theory to highlight systemic colonial exploitation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A
    1 and 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 onlyAnswer
  3. C
    2 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
The statement combination containing 1 and 3 only is correct. The Indian Association (1876) led the historic Civil Services Movement to protest against Lord Lytton's administrative policy reducing the maximum age for Indian candidates. Furthermore, the Moderate leaders placed the Drain of Wealth theory at the core of their political agitation. Statement 2 is false because Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee presided over the inaugural 1885 Bombay session, whereas Dadabhai Naoroji presided over the subsequent 1886 Calcutta session.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Statement 1 regarding the Indian Association and Civil Service agitation.
Statement 1 is correct.
The Indian Association, founded in 1876 by Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose, organized an all-India protest when Lord Lytton reduced the maximum age for civil service examinations from 21 to 19 years.
2
Evaluate Statement 2 regarding the president of the first session of the INC in 1885.
Statement 2 is incorrect.
The first session of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay in December 1885 and was presided over by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W. C. Bonnerjee). Dadabhai Naoroji presided over the second session held in Calcutta in 1886.
3
Evaluate Statement 3 regarding the economic critique by Moderate leaders.
Statement 3 is correct.
Moderate leaders such as Dadabhai Naoroji, R. C. Dutt, and Dinshaw Wacha formulated and popularized the 'Drain of Wealth' theory to show how Indian revenues were systematically transferred to Britain without economic return.

Key Concept

Pre-INC Associations, Early INC Leadership, and Moderate Economic Nationalism
Rate this question

Topics

Rise of Indian Nationalism and Early Phase of the Indian National Congress

More questions from this topic