Indian National Congress Notes for UPSC

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in 1885 and became the main platform of the Indian freedom struggle. Its early years were led by the Moderates, who believed in peaceful, constitutional methods. From about 1905, a more active group called the Extremists (or Radical Nationalists) wanted to take bolder steps. For UPSC, this topic is important for both Prelims and Mains: expect questions on the foundation of the Congress, the leaders and their methods, the Surat split of 1907 and the comparison between the two groups.

Political Associations Before the Congress

Before 1885 many regional organisations raised public issues: the Landholders' Society (1837), the British Indian Association (1851), the East India Association (London, 1866, started by Dadabhai Naoroji), the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1870, led by M. G. Ranade), the Indian Association (1876, founded by Surendranath Banerjea and Anandamohan Bose), the Madras Mahajana Sabha (1884) and the Bombay Presidency Association (1885). The Congress brought all these voices together on one national platform.

Foundation of the Indian National Congress (1885)

The first session of the Congress was held in Bombay in December 1885, with W. C. Bonnerjee as the first President. It was started with the help of A. O. Hume, a retired British civil servant. The 72 delegates came from many regions. The "safety valve theory" says that Hume wanted the Congress to give educated Indians a peaceful way to express their anger. Nationalist leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai accepted that the early leaders used Hume cleverly as a shield. In its early years the Congress asked for a larger share of Indians in the government, not for independence.

Important Early Sessions

The Moderate Phase (1885 to 1905)

Leaders

The main Moderate leaders were Dadabhai Naoroji (the "Grand Old Man of India"), Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, W. C. Bonnerjee, Surendranath Banerjea, Romesh Chandra Dutt, Badruddin Tyabji, M. G. Ranade and Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Demands

• Expansion of the Legislative Councils and more Indian members.
• Holding the Indian Civil Service (ICS) exam simultaneously in India and England and Indianisation of services.
• Separation of the judiciary from the executive.
• Reduction of military spending, land revenue and the salt tax.
• Protection of civil rights such as free speech and press.

Methods and Achievements

The Moderates believed in the justice of the British people and used petitions, memorials, delegations and speeches (the "three Ps": prayer, petition and protest). Their major intellectual contribution was the economic critique of British rule: Dadabhai Naoroji's "Drain Theory" in Poverty and Un-British Rule in India, R. C. Dutt's Economic History of India and the writings of Ranade showed how British policies drained India's wealth. They achieved the Indian Councils Act, 1892 (a small step towards representation) and the appointment of the Welby Commission (1895) to review Indian expenditure. They also helped to build national consciousness.

Limitations

The Moderates had a narrow social base (mostly urban, educated, upper class), little contact with farmers and workers, and an unrealistic hope in British fair play. By 1900, the British had ignored most of their demands, and younger leaders began to lose patience.

Rise of the Extremists: Reasons

• Failure of Moderate methods to bring real change.
• Reactionary policies of Lord Curzon: the Calcutta Corporation Act (1899), the Official Secrets Act (1904), the Universities Act (1904) and above all the Partition of Bengal (1905).
• Famines and plague of the 1890s and a harsh government response (Tilak was jailed for sedition in 1897).
• International events: Ethiopia's defeat of Italy (1896) and Japan's victory over Russia (1905) showed that Asians could defeat Europeans.
• Growth of education and unemployment among the youth and pride in India's culture, inspired by Swami Vivekananda and Dayananda Saraswati.

The Extremist Phase (1905 to 1916)

The three famous Extremist leaders were Lal-Bal-Pal: Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab), Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Maharashtra) and Bipin Chandra Pal (Bengal), with Aurobindo Ghose as another major voice. Tilak raised the slogan "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it", ran the newspapers Kesari and Maratha and used festivals like the Ganesh and Shivaji festivals to unite people. Their programme was Swaraj (self-rule), boycott of foreign goods, Swadeshi (use of Indian goods), national education and passive resistance. During the Swadeshi movement against the Partition of Bengal, the National Council of Education was founded in 1906. The Calcutta session of 1906 under Dadabhai Naoroji adopted Swaraj as the aim.

Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement (1905)

The Partition of Bengal was announced by Lord Curzon and came into effect on 16 October 1905. The official reason was that Bengal was too big to be administered well, but nationalists saw it as a plan to divide Hindus and Muslims and to weaken Bengali nationalism. A huge protest began. People observed 16 October as a day of mourning, tied rakhis on each other's wrists as a sign of unity, and the leaders gave a call to boycott British goods and use Indian goods (Swadeshi). Students, women, and traders joined in, bonfires of foreign cloth were lit and national schools and colleges were opened. The song Vande Mataram became the anthem of the movement. Although the partition was annulled in 1911 when the capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi, the movement taught Indians the power of mass protest, and it gave the Extremists a new importance within the Congress. This is why you should always link the Extremist phase with the Swadeshi movement in Mains answers.

The Surat Split (1907)

At the Surat session in December 1907, the Moderates and Extremists disagreed over the choice of the president and over the resolutions on boycott, Swadeshi and national education. The meeting broke into chaos and the Congress split. The Moderates, led by Gokhale and Pherozeshah Mehta, kept control of the party, while the government cracked down on the Extremists: Tilak was convicted for sedition in 1908 and sent to Mandalay prison for six years. The Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 tried to win over the Moderates and divide Indian opinion by giving separate electorates to Muslims. The two groups came together again at Lucknow in 1916.

Moderates vs Extremists: Comparison

Mains Angle: Assess the Role of the Moderates

Do not call the Moderates simply "weak". A balanced answer says that they created the base of the national movement: they spread the idea of Indian unity, trained a generation of leaders, exposed the economic exploitation by Britain and used the law and the press to challenge the government. At the same time, their methods did not bring large results and they could not involve the masses. Their work prepared the ground for the more active phases that followed.

Practice Statements and Common Mistakes

• "The first session of the Congress was held at Calcutta." Wrong. It was held at Bombay in 1885.
• "Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim president of the Congress." Correct (1887).
• "Swaraj was first declared as the Congress aim in 1929." Wrong for "first": in 1906 Swaraj was declared the goal; in 1929 it became complete independence (Purna Swaraj).
• Do not mix up the Surat split (1907) with the Lucknow reunion (1916).

How to Study This Topic

1. Prepare a session table with the year, place, president and one fact for the early Congress sessions.
2. Learn leaders with their works: Naoroji (Poverty and Un-British Rule), R. C. Dutt (Economic History of India), Tilak (Kesari and Maratha).
3. Make a two-column comparison of Moderates and Extremists and revise it before the exam.
4. Practise PYQs on the foundation of the Congress, Surat split and Swadeshi movement.

Quick Revision

• INC founded in 1885 at Bombay; first President W. C. Bonnerjee; A. O. Hume played a key role.
• Moderates: Naoroji, Gokhale, Mehta; methods: petitions; contribution: drain theory.
• Extremists: Lal-Bal-Pal; Swaraj, Swadeshi, boycott; Surat split in 1907.

This topic is the foundation of the national movement. Make a table of sessions, a comparison chart of the two groups and a short note on the Surat split, and you will be able to answer most questions with confidence.

Related Notes to Read Next

Continue your preparation with these related notes from the same subject:

• Gandhian Movements Notes for UPSC
• Socio-Religious Reform Movements Notes for UPSC
• Constitutional Developments in British India (1773 to 1935)
• All Modern Indian History notes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When and where was the Indian National Congress founded?

The Indian National Congress was founded in December 1885 at Bombay. Its first president was W. C. Bonnerjee, and A. O. Hume played a key role in its formation.

What is the safety valve theory?

The safety valve theory says that A. O. Hume formed the Congress to give educated Indians a peaceful outlet for their discontent so that it would not turn into a violent revolt against British rule.

Who were the Moderates in the Indian National Congress?

The Moderates were early Congress leaders such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, W. C. Bonnerjee and Surendranath Banerjea, who believed in constitutional methods.

What methods did the Moderates use?

The Moderates used petitions, memorials, prayers, delegations and speeches to put their demands before the government, and they had faith in British justice.

What is the Drain Theory?

The Drain Theory, explained by Dadabhai Naoroji, says that a large part of India’s wealth was sent to Britain without any return, which made India poor and Britain rich.

Who were Lal-Bal-Pal?

Lal-Bal-Pal were Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal, the three main Extremist leaders from Punjab, Maharashtra and Bengal.

Why did the Extremists emerge in the Congress?

They emerged because Moderate methods failed to produce results, and because of Curzon’s policies, the Partition of Bengal, famines and international events such as Japan’s victory over Russia.

What was the Surat Split of 1907?

At the Surat session in 1907, the Moderates and Extremists disagreed and the Congress split. The Moderates kept control of the party until the two groups reunited at Lucknow in 1916.

What was Tilak’s famous slogan?

Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s slogan was "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it". It became a popular call for self-rule.

Who was the first Muslim president of the Congress?

Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim president of the Indian National Congress, at the Madras session of 1887.

What was the Welby Commission?

The Welby Commission was appointed in 1895 to look into the expenditure of the Indian administration. Dadabhai Naoroji gave evidence before it on India’s economic problems.

What was the difference between Moderates and Extremists?

Moderates asked for reforms through peaceful petitions and trusted British justice, while Extremists demanded Swaraj and used boycott, Swadeshi and passive resistance with a broader mass appeal.