The Formation of Indian National Congress in 1885 marked a turning point in the history of India’s freedom struggle. The Indian National Congress served as the first organized political platform where educated Indians could voice their demands before the British government. Founded by Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, the INC brought together leaders from different regions of the country to discuss political and social reforms. The formation of this organization laid the groundwork for the independence movement that followed in the coming decades.
For students preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, and state-level examinations, questions on the Formation of Indian National Congress appear frequently. This blog post presents 30 well-researched MCQs that cover the founding year, first session details, early leaders, and other important facts about the INC. Practicing these questions will help you score better in history sections of your exams.
30 MCQs on Formation of Indian National Congress – Indian History
Q1. In which year was the Indian National Congress founded?
(A) 1880
(B) 1885
(C) 1890
(D) 1895
Q2. Who founded the Indian National Congress?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Allan Octavian Hume
(D) Dadabhai Naoroji
Q3. Where was the first session of the Indian National Congress held?
(A) Calcutta
(B) Madras
(C) Bombay
(D) Delhi
Q4. Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?
(A) Dadabhai Naoroji
(B) Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee
(C) Surendranath Banerjee
(D) Badruddin Tyabji
Q5. How many delegates attended the first session of the Indian National Congress?
(A) 52
(B) 62
(C) 72
(D) 82
Q6. The first session of the INC was held at which venue?
(A) Town Hall Bombay
(B) Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College
(C) Victoria Hall
(D) Senate Hall Bombay
Q7. Who was the Viceroy of India at the time of the formation of the Indian National Congress?
(A) Lord Ripon
(B) Lord Curzon
(C) Lord Dufferin
(D) Lord Lytton
Q8. The Safety Valve Theory is associated with which of the following?
(A) Formation of All India Muslim League
(B) Formation of Indian National Congress
(C) Partition of Bengal
(D) Quit India Movement
Q9. The first session of the INC was originally planned to be held in which city?
(A) Delhi
(B) Calcutta
(C) Pune
(D) Madras
Q10. Why was the first session of the INC shifted from Pune to Bombay?
(A) Political unrest in Pune
(B) Cholera epidemic in Pune
(C) Lack of funds
(D) Opposition from the British government
Q11. Who was the first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress?
(A) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(B) Badruddin Tyabji
(C) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(D) Hakim Ajmal Khan
Q12. In which year did Badruddin Tyabji preside over the INC session?
(A) 1885
(B) 1886
(C) 1887
(D) 1888
Q13. A.O. Hume was a retired officer of which service?
(A) Indian Police Service
(B) Indian Civil Service
(C) Indian Military Service
(D) Indian Forest Service
Q14. The second session of the Indian National Congress was held in which city?
(A) Bombay
(B) Madras
(C) Calcutta
(D) Allahabad
Q15. Who presided over the second session of the Indian National Congress in 1886?
(A) W.C. Bonnerjee
(B) Dadabhai Naoroji
(C) Badruddin Tyabji
(D) George Yule
Q16. Who was the first Englishman to preside over the Indian National Congress?
(A) A.O. Hume
(B) George Yule
(C) William Wedderburn
(D) Henry Cotton
Q17. On which exact date was the Indian National Congress founded?
(A) 26 January 1885
(B) 15 August 1885
(C) 28 December 1885
(D) 1 January 1886
Q18. According to the Safety Valve Theory, the INC was created to:
(A) Promote Indian art and culture
(B) Act as a platform to prevent a mass uprising
(C) Help British traders in India
(D) Educate Indian youth
Q19. Who is often called the “Father of the Indian National Congress”?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Allan Octavian Hume
(D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Q20. Dadabhai Naoroji is popularly known as:
(A) Mahatma
(B) Grand Old Man of India
(C) Iron Man of India
(D) Lion of Punjab
Q21. In which month was the first session of the Indian National Congress held?
(A) January
(B) March
(C) August
(D) December
Q22. Which organization was founded by Surendranath Banerjee in 1876?
(A) Indian National Conference
(B) Indian Association
(C) Bombay Presidency Association
(D) Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
Q23. The Indian National Conference was first organized in which year?
(A) 1883
(B) 1884
(C) 1885
(D) 1886
Q24. Who among the following was NOT a founder of the Indian National Congress?
(A) A.O. Hume
(B) Dadabhai Naoroji
(C) Dinshaw Wacha
(D) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Q25. Which of the following was a pre-Congress political organization in India?
(A) All India Muslim League
(B) Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
(C) Hindu Mahasabha
(D) Swaraj Party
Q26. The early leaders of the Indian National Congress were known as:
(A) Extremists
(B) Moderates
(C) Revolutionaries
(D) Radicals
Q27. The Surat Split in the Indian National Congress took place in which year?
(A) 1905
(B) 1906
(C) 1907
(D) 1908
Q28. Who was the first woman to preside over the Indian National Congress?
(A) Sarojini Naidu
(B) Annie Besant
(C) Kasturba Gandhi
(D) Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Q29. Who was the first Indian woman to preside over the Indian National Congress?
(A) Annie Besant
(B) Sarojini Naidu
(C) Indira Gandhi
(D) Aruna Asaf Ali
Q30. The Indian National Congress initially followed which method to place its demands before the British?
(A) Armed resistance
(B) Petitions and constitutional methods
(C) Mass civil disobedience
(D) Complete non-cooperation
Correct Answers
- (B) 1885
- (C) Allan Octavian Hume
- (C) Bombay
- (B) Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee
- (C) 72
- (B) Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College
- (C) Lord Dufferin
- (B) Formation of Indian National Congress
- (C) Pune
- (B) Cholera epidemic in Pune
- (B) Badruddin Tyabji
- (C) 1887
- (B) Indian Civil Service
- (C) Calcutta
- (B) Dadabhai Naoroji
- (B) George Yule
- (C) 28 December 1885
- (B) Act as a platform to prevent a mass uprising
- (C) Allan Octavian Hume
- (B) Grand Old Man of India
- (D) December
- (B) Indian Association
- (A) 1883
- (D) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- (B) Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
- (B) Moderates
- (C) 1907
- (B) Annie Besant
- (B) Sarojini Naidu
- (B) Petitions and constitutional methods
Conclusion
The Formation of Indian National Congress in 1885 was one of the most defining moments in modern Indian history. From its humble beginning with 72 delegates in Bombay, the INC grew into a massive political force that eventually led India to independence in 1947. The early leaders like W.C. Bonnerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, and Badruddin Tyabji shaped the initial direction of the organization through peaceful petitions and constitutional approaches.
We hope these 30 MCQs on the Formation of Indian National Congress have helped you test and strengthen your knowledge of this topic. Regular practice of such questions will boost your confidence and improve your performance in competitive examinations. Bookmark this page and revisit it before your exams for a quick revision session on this important chapter of Indian history.