Indian National Congress: Key Sessions & Agendas
1. The Moderate Phase (1885 – 1905)
Focus: Constitutional reforms, prayers, and petitions.
| Year / Venue | President | Main Agenda / Exam Point |
|---|---|---|
| 1885 Bombay | W.C. Bonnerjee | First Session. Attended by 72 delegates. Founded by A.O. Hume. |
| 1886 Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | First session in Bengal. Naoroji became the first non-Hindu President. |
| 1887 Madras | Badruddin Tyabji | First Muslim President. Appeal to Muslims to join the Congress. |
| 1888 Allahabad | George Yule | First European/Foreign President. |
| 1889 Bombay | Sir William Wedderburn | First time women participated as delegates in a Congress session. |
| 1890 Calcutta | Pherozeshah Mehta | First woman graduate of Calcutta University, Kadambini Ganguly, addressed the session. |
| 1891 Nagpur | P. Ananda Charlu | The word ‘National’ was formally added to the name of the Congress. |
| 1892 Allahabad | W.C. Bonnerjee | Session focused on criticizing the Indian Councils Act (1892) for its lack of real power. |
2. Extremism & Split (1905 – 1916)
| 1906 Calcutta | Dadabhai Naoroji | The word ‘Swaraj’ was mentioned for the first time. |
| 1907 Surat | Rash Behari Ghosh | Surat Split: Congress divided into Moderates and Extremists. |
| 1911 Calcutta | B.N. Dhar | Jana Gana Mana sung for the first time in a session. |
| 1915 Bombay | S.P. Sinha | Constitution of the Congress was altered to admit the Extremists back into the fold. |
| 1916 Lucknow | A.C. Majumdar | Lucknow Pact: Reunion of Moderates & Extremists; Joint alliance with the Muslim League. |
3. The Gandhian Era (1917 – 1947)
| Year / Venue | President | Main Agenda / Exam Point |
|---|---|---|
| 1917 Calcutta | Annie Besant | First Woman President. |
| 1924 Belgaum | Mahatma Gandhi | The ONLY session presided over by Gandhi. |
| 1925 Kanpur | Sarojini Naidu | First Indian Woman President. |
| 1929 Lahore | J.L. Nehru | Passed ‘Purna Swaraj’ (Complete Independence) resolution. |
| 1938 Haripura | S.C. Bose | National Planning Committee set up. Bose elected unanimously. |
| 1946 Meerut | J.B. Kripalani | President during the transition to Independence. |