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.