UPSC Prelims 2025Question 20Modern History

Consider the following statements in respect of the Non-Cooperation Movement
I. The Congress declared the attainment of 'Swaraj' by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective.
II. It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and nonpayment of taxes for the next stage only if 'Swaraj' did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Options

(a)I only
(b)II only
(c)Both I and II
(d)Neither I nor II

Correct answer: c

Decision rule

Gandhian mass movements escalated in stages: withdrawal of cooperation first, tax refusal and civil disobedience only later and only on stated conditions.

Explanation

Correct Answer:

(c) Both I and II

Explanation of the Correct Answer:

Both statements are factually accurate and reflect the official strategy and objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) as resolved by the Indian National Congress in 1920–21:

Statement I:

At the Nagpur session of the INC in December 1920, the Congress adopted "Swaraj by all legitimate and peaceful means" as its official goal.
This was a departure from earlier moderate methods, signaling a more assertive yet non-violent approach toward self-rule (Swaraj).
Mahatma Gandhi emphasized that constitutional agitation had failed, and the movement now required mass non-cooperation.

Statement II:

The Non-Cooperation Movement was to be implemented in stages, beginning with:
- Boycott of government schools and colleges
- Resignation from government service
- Boycott of foreign goods and law courts
- Promotion of khadi and national education
Civil Disobedience, including non-payment of taxes, was envisaged only in the second stage — to be adopted if Swaraj was not achieved within a year and government repression intensified.
This conditional progression was part of Gandhi’s controlled mass movement strategy, designed to minimize violence.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

(a) I only: Incorrect because Statement II is also correct.
(b) II only: Incorrect because Statement I is also correct.
(d) Neither I nor II: Incorrect, as both statements are historically true.

Relevant Supplementary Information:

Key Objectives and Strategy of the Non-Cooperation Movement:

Aspect	Details
Adopted at	Nagpur Session of Indian National Congress (December 1920)
Key Leader	Mahatma Gandhi
Immediate Causes	Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919), Rowlatt Act, Khilafat issue
Initial Actions	Boycott of educational institutions, law courts, and foreign cloth
Conditional Next Steps	Civil disobedience and tax refusal if Swaraj not attained within a year
Philosophy	Non-violence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), and mass participation
End of Movement	Suspended in February 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident

Timeline Snapshot:

Event	Date
INC adopts non-cooperation resolution	Sept 1920
Launch of Movement	January 1921
Chauri Chaura Incident	5 February 1922
Withdrawal of Movement	12 February 1922

Table: Key Concepts Related to the Non-Cooperation Movement

Concept / Element	Details
Objective of Swaraj	Declared at the Nagpur Session (1920) of INC — “attainment of Swaraj by peaceful means”
Mahatma Gandhi’s Leadership	Gandhi transformed Congress from elite-led to mass-based; emphasized non-violence & swaraj
Phased Strategy	Movement was to be implemented in stages — initially non-cooperation, later civil disobedience
Civil Disobedience (Next Stage)	Gandhi warned that if Swaraj wasn’t achieved within a year, and if repression grew, tax refusal and civil disobedience would follow
Early Actions (Phase 1)	- Boycott of govt schools and colleges - Boycott of law courts - Boycott of foreign cloth - Resignation from government posts
Chauri Chaura Incident (1922)	Violent clash between protesters and police in UP; Gandhi withdrew the movement immediately
Nagpur Session (1920)	- Modified INC constitution to allow mass membership - Embraced constructive work like khadi, national education, etc.
Relation to Khilafat Movement	NCM was launched alongside Khilafat Movement to unite Hindus and Muslims

Supplementary Concepts for Broader Understanding

Concept	Explanation
Swaraj	Originally meant self-rule; Gandhi redefined it as moral and political freedom
Non-Cooperation	Withdrawal of cooperation from British institutions to paralyze the Raj
Constructive Programme	Gandhi’s focus on khadi, panchayats, Hindi, and untouchability removal
Ahimsa (Non-Violence)	Foundational principle; reason why Gandhi called off the movement after violence
Role of INC	For the first time, Congress became a mass political party

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