Q106
Indian National MovementRise of Nationalism & the Congress
The historical importance of the second session of the INC held in Calcutta in 1886 was that
- a.There was merger between the INC and the National Conference.
- b.It was presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji.
- c.The great scholar Rajendralal Mitra was the President of its local Reception Committee.
- d.All of the above
Answer: (A) There was merger between the INC and the National Conference.
PSC's key gives the merger: Surendranath Banerjea's Indian National Conference (which had met at Calcutta in 1883 and 1885 under the Indian Association) merged with the Indian National Congress at the 1886 Calcutta session, making the Congress a truly all-India body. Note that the other two statements are also historically correct — Dadabhai Naoroji presided over the session and Rajendralal Mitra chaired its Reception Committee — which is why many guidebooks answer "All of the above"; the PSC nevertheless kept (A). Later landmarks: Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim President (Madras, 1887) and George Yule the first English President (Allahabad, 1888).