20.Indian National Congress and Act of 1892

Question 1

Who founded the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885?

Answer 1

Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume) founded the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885.

Question 2

Who were the founding members of the Indian National Congress?

Answer 2

The founding members of the Indian National Congress were Allan Octavian Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, and Dinshaw Wacha.

Question 3

Who is known as India’s Grand Old Man and the country’s Unofficial Ambassador?

Answer 3

Dadabhai Naoroji is known as India’s Grand Old Man and the country’s Unofficial Ambassador.

Question 4

What theory did Dadabhai Naoroji propose in his book ‘Poverty and Un-British Rule in India’?

Answer 4

Dadabhai Naoroji proposed the money drain theory, explaining the British exploitation of India.

Question 5

Where was the first session of the Indian National Congress held in 1885?

Answer 5

The first session of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay.

Question 6

Who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress?

Answer 6

Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress.

Question 7

Who granted permission for the first session of the Indian National Congress?

Answer 7

Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy of India, granted permission for the first session of the Indian National Congress.

Question 8

What was the purpose of establishing the Indian National Congress?

Answer 8

The Indian National Congress was established to demand greater participation in government and provide a platform for political dialogue.

Question 9

What was the social composition of the Indian National Congress in its early years?

Answer 9

The Indian National Congress was dominated by western-educated and upper middle-class elites.

Question 10

What were the objectives of the Indian National Congress (INC)?

Answer 10

The objectives of the Indian National Congress (INC) were to raise political awareness, find a democratic and nationalist movement, develop and propagate anti-colonial ideology, nurture Indian nationhood, promote national unity, and formulate popular demands.

Question 11

What were some specific issues the Indian National Congress focused on?

Answer 11

The Indian National Congress focused on increasing representation in councils, Indianization of civil services, and addressing colonial exploitative policies.

Question 12

What was the goal of developing friendly relations between nationalist political workers?

Answer 12

The goal was to promote unity and cooperation among nationalist political workers from different parts of the country.

Question 13

How did the Indian National Congress aim to train and organize public opinion?

Answer 13

The Indian National Congress aimed to train and organize public opinion through its activities, meetings, and communication with the public.

Question 14

Why did the Indian National Congress provide an outlet for popular discontent with British rule?

Answer 14

The Indian National Congress served as a platform for people to express their grievances and frustrations with British rule in a peaceful and organized manner.

Question 15

What was the significance of establishing a pan-India organization for the Indian National Congress?

Answer 15

Establishing a pan-India organization helped unite people from different regions, castes, religions, and provinces under a common platform, fostering a sense of national unity.

Question 16

What were the two key aspects of the Indian National Congress’s objectives?

Answer 16

The Indian National Congress aimed to achieve political awareness and develop a democratic, nationalist movement.

Question 17

Who were some key leaders of the Moderate Phase (1885-1905) of the Indian National Congress?

Answer 17

Some key leaders of the Moderate Phase were Dadabhai Naoroji, W.C. Banerjee, G. Subramania Aiyar, Badruddin Tayyabji, Surendra Nath Banerjee, and Dinshaw Wacha.

Question 18

What was the approach of the Moderate leaders in the Indian National Congress?

Answer 18

The Moderate leaders emphasized constitutional and peaceful means, valued patience and reconciliation, and focused on educating people, raising political consciousness, and forming strong public opinion.

Question 19

How did the Moderates criticize government policies and raise awareness?

Answer 19

The Moderates used newspapers and chronicles like the Bombay Chronicle, Hindustan Times, and Rast Goftar to criticize government policies. They organized lectures, meetings, processions, and annual sessions of the Indian National Congress. They also drafted memorandums and petitions to address issues and called for government investigations.

Question 20

What were some achievements of the Moderates during their phase?

Answer 20

The Moderates created national awakening, popularized the ideas of civil liberties and secularism, raised awareness about British political and economic exploitation, and advocated for democratic self-government. The establishment of the Welby Commission in 1895 to investigate wasteful spending in India was also an achievement.

Question 21

Where were the meetings and sessions of the Indian National Congress held during the Moderate Phase?

Answer 21

The meetings and sessions of the Indian National Congress were held in various locations including England, Mumbai, Allahabad, Pune, and Calcutta.

Question 22

What is the Safety Valve Theory associated with the founding of the Indian National Congress (INC)?

Answer 22

The Safety Valve Theory suggests that the INC was founded by A.O. Hume, a retired English civil servant, as a means to provide a “safety valve” for the growing discontent with British rule.

Question 23

Who is associated with the Conspiracy Theory regarding the formation of the INC?

Answer 23

R.P. Dutt, a Marxist historian, proposed the Conspiracy Theory, which suggests that the INC arose from a conspiracy to suppress a popular uprising in India, with the complicity of bourgeois leaders.

Question 24

What is the Lightning Conductor Theory proposed by G.K. Gokhale?

Answer 24

The Lightning Conductor Theory suggests that the INC was formed to represent the desire of politically conscious Indians to establish a national body to express their political and economic demands. It suggests that early Congress leaders used A.O. Hume as a catalyst or figurehead to bring together nationalistic forces.

Question 25

Was the Safety Valve Theory influenced by Viceroy Dufferin’s suggestion?

Answer 25

There is speculation that Viceroy Dufferin suggested the idea of an annual conference of educated Indians for political discussions, but there is no reliable evidence to support the claim that Dufferin suggested the formation of the INC as a “safety valve.”

Question 26

What is the main difference between the Safety Valve Theory and the Lightning Conductor Theory?

Answer 26

The Safety Valve Theory suggests that the INC was intended as a means to provide a controlled outlet for discontent, while the Lightning Conductor Theory suggests that the INC was formed to express Indian political and economic demands, using A.O. Hume as a catalyst or figurehead.

Question 27

What were some of the demands made by the INC prior to the Indian Councils Act of 1892?

Answer 27

The demands made by the INC included reforms in the legislative process, election instead of nomination in the government, reduction in military spending, and conducting the Indian Civil Services exam in India.

Question 28

What were the provisions of the Indian Councils Act of 1892?

Answer 28

The provisions of the Indian Councils Act of 1892 included an increase in the number of non-official members in Legislative Councils, categorization of members into official, non-official, elected, and nominated, establishment of Central and Provincial legislative councils with designated numbers of members, nomination of council members as representatives of the Governor-General, limitations on voting and follow-up questions for council members, authority of the Governor-General in Council to set rules for member nomination, implementation of an indirect election system for council members, and increased powers for provincial legislative councils.

Question 29

How many members were there in the Central legislative council under the Indian Councils Act of 1892?

Answer 29

The Central legislative council had a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 16 members under the Indian Councils Act of 1892.

Question 30

Who had the authority to recommend members for provincial councils under the Indian Councils Act of 1892?

Answer 30

Members of provincial councils could be recommended by universities, district boards, municipalities, zamindars, and chambers of commerce under the Indian Councils Act of 1892.

Question 31

What was the significance of the Indian Councils Act of 1892?

Answer 31

The Indian Councils Act of 1892 marked the first step towards a representative system of government in modern India. It increased the number of non-official members in legislative councils, provided more powers to provincial councils, and introduced an indirect election system. However, it still maintained the ultimate control and authority of the Governor-General.