The Non-Cooperation Movement was one of the most powerful mass movements in the history of India’s freedom struggle. Launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 1, 1920, this movement marked a new chapter in Indian politics. It was the first large-scale nationwide movement that brought together millions of Indians against British colonial rule. The movement was rooted in the principles of non-violence and self-sacrifice. Gandhi believed that the British ruled India only because of the cooperation of Indian people. If that cooperation was withdrawn peacefully, the British government would collapse on its own.
The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in response to two major events — the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 and the Khilafat issue. The Rowlatt Act had already angered the Indian masses. The brutal massacre at Jallianwala Bagh further deepened the resentment against British rule. At the same time, Indian Muslims were upset over the treatment of the Ottoman Caliphate by British authorities after World War I. Gandhi saw an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims under one banner. The movement called upon Indians to surrender government titles, boycott British courts and educational institutions, resign from government jobs, and promote Khadi and Indian goods. However, the movement was abruptly called off after the Chauri Chaura incident on February 5, 1922, when a violent mob set fire to a police station killing 22 policemen. Gandhi firmly believed that violence had no place in the struggle for freedom.
30 MCQs on Non-Cooperation Movement – Indian History
Q1. Who launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in India?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Subhas Chandra Bose
C) Mahatma Gandhi
D) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Q2. In which year was the Non-Cooperation Movement officially launched?
A) 1919
B) 1920
C) 1921
D) 1922
Q3. On what date did Mahatma Gandhi formally launch the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) January 26, 1920
B) August 1, 1920
C) March 12, 1920
D) October 16, 1920
Q4. Which of the following events was a direct cause behind the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) Partition of Bengal
B) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
C) Simon Commission
D) Quit India Resolution
Q5. The Non-Cooperation Movement was closely linked with which other movement?
A) Civil Disobedience Movement
B) Swadeshi Movement
C) Khilafat Movement
D) Quit India Movement
Q6. The Khilafat issue was related to the treatment of which institution by British and allied powers?
A) Indian Parliament
B) Ottoman Caliphate
C) Persian Empire
D) Mughal Sultanate
Q7. Who were the main leaders of the Khilafat Movement that joined the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Hakim Ajmal Khan
B) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
C) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Aga Khan
D) Liaquat Ali Khan and Muhammad Iqbal
Q8. Which session of the Indian National Congress approved the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) Lahore Session, 1929
B) Nagpur Session, 1920
C) Lucknow Session, 1916
D) Surat Session, 1907
Q9. The special session of the Indian National Congress held in September 1920 that endorsed the Non-Cooperation Movement took place in which city?
A) Bombay
B) Calcutta
C) Madras
D) Allahabad
Q10. Who presided over the Calcutta Special Session of Congress in September 1920?
A) Motilal Nehru
B) Lala Lajpat Rai
C) C. Rajagopalachari
D) Mahatma Gandhi
Q11. Which of the following was NOT a part of the Non-Cooperation Movement program?
A) Boycott of British courts
B) Surrender of government titles
C) Armed rebellion against the British
D) Boycott of foreign goods
Q12. Which famous title did Mahatma Gandhi surrender during the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) Rai Bahadur
B) Kaiser-i-Hind
C) Diwan Bahadur
D) Khan Bahadur
Q13. The Chauri Chaura incident that led to the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement took place in which state?
A) Bihar
B) Uttar Pradesh
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Maharashtra
Q14. On what date did the Chauri Chaura incident occur?
A) February 5, 1922
B) March 10, 1922
C) April 13, 1922
D) January 30, 1922
Q15. How many policemen were killed in the Chauri Chaura incident?
A) 11
B) 15
C) 22
D) 30
Q16. Why did Mahatma Gandhi call off the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) The British agreed to grant independence
B) The movement had achieved all its goals
C) Violence erupted at Chauri Chaura
D) Indian leaders disagreed with Gandhi
Q17. Which Indian leader opposed the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement after Chauri Chaura?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Subhas Chandra Bose
C) Motilal Nehru
D) All of the above
Q18. The Tilak Swaraj Fund was established during the Non-Cooperation Movement to collect how much money?
A) Rs. 50 Lakhs
B) Rs. 1 Crore
C) Rs. 2 Crores
D) Rs. 5 Crores
Q19. Which Indian educational institution was established as an alternative to British institutions during the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) Aligarh Muslim University
B) Banaras Hindu University
C) Jamia Millia Islamia
D) Presidency College
Q20. Who among the following returned his knighthood as part of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) Rabindranath Tagore
B) C.V. Raman
C) Tej Bahadur Sapru
D) Syed Ahmad Khan
Q21. The Non-Cooperation Movement aimed to attain which goal within one year?
A) Complete Independence
B) Swaraj (Self-Rule)
C) Dominion Status
D) Provincial Autonomy
Q22. Which region witnessed the Moplah Rebellion during the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) Punjab
B) Bengal
C) Malabar (Kerala)
D) Gujarat
Q23. In which year did the Moplah Rebellion take place?
A) 1919
B) 1920
C) 1921
D) 1922
Q24. Mahatma Gandhi was arrested after calling off the Non-Cooperation Movement and sentenced to how many years in prison?
A) 2 years
B) 4 years
C) 6 years
D) 8 years
Q25. The Awadh Kisan Movement during the Non-Cooperation period was led by which leader?
A) Swami Sahajanand
B) Baba Ramchandra
C) N.G. Ranga
D) Alluri Sitarama Raju
Q26. Which act of the British government had already caused widespread anger before the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
A) Vernacular Press Act
B) Rowlatt Act
C) Ilbert Bill
D) Arms Act
Q27. During the Non-Cooperation Movement, which of the following leaders left his law practice to join the movement?
A) Motilal Nehru
B) C. Rajagopalachari
C) Vallabhbhai Patel
D) All of the above
Q28. The Nagpur Session of 1920 restructured the Congress organization on what basis?
A) Religious basis
B) Linguistic provincial basis
C) Economic basis
D) Caste basis
Q29. Which tribal leader led the Rampa Rebellion in Andhra Pradesh during the Non-Cooperation era?
A) Birsa Munda
B) Alluri Sitarama Raju
C) Tantia Bhil
D) Komaram Bheem
Q30. Which political party was formed after the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement by leaders who wanted to enter legislatures?
A) Forward Bloc
B) Swaraj Party
C) Justice Party
D) Hindu Mahasabha
Correct Answers
- C) Mahatma Gandhi
- B) 1920
- B) August 1, 1920
- B) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
- C) Khilafat Movement
- B) Ottoman Caliphate
- B) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
- B) Nagpur Session, 1920
- B) Calcutta
- B) Lala Lajpat Rai
- C) Armed rebellion against the British
- B) Kaiser-i-Hind
- B) Uttar Pradesh
- A) February 5, 1922
- C) 22
- C) Violence erupted at Chauri Chaura
- D) All of the above
- B) Rs. 1 Crore
- C) Jamia Millia Islamia
- A) Rabindranath Tagore
- B) Swaraj (Self-Rule)
- C) Malabar (Kerala)
- C) 1921
- C) 6 years
- B) Baba Ramchandra
- B) Rowlatt Act
- D) All of the above
- B) Linguistic provincial basis
- B) Alluri Sitarama Raju
- B) Swaraj Party
Conclusion
The Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-1922 was the first mass movement led by Mahatma Gandhi that shook the foundations of British rule in India. It brought together people from all sections of society including peasants, workers, students, women, and merchants. The movement also achieved Hindu-Muslim unity through its association with the Khilafat Movement. Although it was called off after the Chauri Chaura incident, the movement left a lasting impact on India’s freedom struggle.
For students preparing for UPSC, SSC, State PSC, Railways, and other competitive examinations, the Non-Cooperation Movement is a frequently asked topic. These 30 MCQs cover all the important aspects of this movement including its causes, programs, leaders, and aftermath. Regular practice with such questions will help you score better marks in the Indian History section of your exams.