Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?

(a) Swadeshi Movement ✓ UPSC's answer
(b) Quit India Movement
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement
(d) Civil Disobedience Movement

Why the answer is (a)

• Differences over the scope and methods of the Swadeshi Movement (1905–08) — whether to extend boycott to the whole country and into passive resistance — divided Congress into Moderates (Gokhale) and Extremists (Tilak), culminating in the Surat split of 1907 — option (a).

• Non-Cooperation (c) led to the Swarajist split of 1923; Civil Disobedience (d) and Quit India (b) did not split the party on these lines.

• Hence option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) Quit India Movement: Quit India did not produce the moderate–extremist split.
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement: Non-Cooperation led to the Swarajist split, not this one.
(d) Civil Disobedience Movement: Civil Disobedience did not split the party this way.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.