UPSC Prelims 2014 GS Paper I · Q82 of 100 History easy

The 1929 Session of Indian National Congress is of significance in the history of the Freedom Movement because the

  1. (a) attainment of Self-Government was declared as the objective of the Congress
  2. (b) attainment of Poorna Swaraj was adopted as the goal of the Congress ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) Non-Cooperation Movement was launched
  4. (d) decision to participate in the Round Table Conference in London was taken

Why the answer is (b)

• At the Lahore session of December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress adopted 'Poorna Swaraj' (complete independence) as its goal, replacing Dominion status, and fixed 26 January 1930 as Independence Day — option (b).

• Self-government (a) was the earlier goal; Non-Cooperation (c) was 1920; the Round Table decision (d) came with the Gandhi–Irwin Pact in 1931.

• Hence option (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) attainment of Self-Government was declared as the objective of the Congress
Self-government was the pre-1929 goal.
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement was launched
Non-Cooperation was launched in 1920.
(d) decision to participate in the Round Table Conference in London was taken
Round Table participation was decided in 1931.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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