Question

Difficulty: MediumRise of Indian Nationalism and Early Phase of the Indian National Congress

Which of the following statements regarding the Indian Association of Calcutta (established in 1876) are correct?

  1. It was established by Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose to unify the Indian public on a common political platform.Answer
  2. It spearheaded a nationwide agitation against Lord Lytton's decision to lower the maximum age limit for the Indian Civil Service examination.Answer
  3. C
    It merged with the East India Association of London in 1886 to form an international administrative council.
  4. D
    It supported the enactment of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 to assist colonial regulation of regional news outlets.

Answer

The correct statements are that the Indian Association was established by Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose to unify the Indian public on a common political platform, and that it spearheaded a nationwide agitation against lowering the age limit for the Indian Civil Service examination.
The Indian Association of Calcutta, founded in 1876 by Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose, was a major pre-Congress political organization. It aimed to create a unified public opinion across India and spearheaded the historic Civil Service Agitation when the upper age limit for civil services was reduced from 21 to 19 years.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the establishment and leadership of the Indian Association
Confirm that Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose established the association in Calcutta in 1876.
Verifying the founders and core objective validates the statement regarding its establishment.
2
Evaluate major campaigns conducted by the association
Identify that the association led an all-India protest against reducing the Civil Service entry age from 21 to 19 years.
This confirms its central role in organizing early nationalist civil service agitations.
3
Assess statements regarding colonial acts and organizational mergers
Recognize that the association actively opposed the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 and merged with the Indian National Congress in 1886.
This disproves statements asserting support for the Vernacular Press Act and merger with the East India Association.

Key Concept

Pre-Congress political associations and early nationalist agitations of the Indian Association (1876).
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