The Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in 1906, at which the goal of 'Swaraj' was first declared, was presided over by:

The Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in December 1906 was presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji, who, in his presidential address, declared that the goal of the Congress was "Swaraj" (self-government) like that of the United Kingdom or the colonies.

Background:

• After the partition of Bengal (1905), there was a growing division in the Congress between the Moderates and the Extremists.
• The Extremists wanted Bal Gangadhar Tilak to preside over the session; the Moderates proposed Dadabhai Naoroji, who was respected by both groups.
• Naoroji was chosen to avoid a split.

Resolutions of the Calcutta session:

• The goal of "Swaraj" was declared for the first time.
• Resolutions were passed in support of Swadeshi, Boycott, National Education, and self-government.
• These were a victory for the Extremists.

What followed:

The differences between the Moderates and the Extremists continued, and the Congress split at its Surat session in 1907.

About Dadabhai Naoroji:

• He was born in 1825 in Bombay, in a Parsi family.
• He is known as the "Grand Old Man of India".
• He was one of the founders of the Indian National Congress, and was its President three times: 1886 (Calcutta), 1893 (Lahore) and 1906 (Calcutta).
• He was the first Indian to be elected to the British House of Commons (1892), from Central Finsbury, as a Liberal.

His "drain theory":

• In his book "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India" (1901), he argued that British rule was draining India's wealth to Britain, through home charges, salaries and pensions of British officials, and profits.
• He was the first to estimate India's national income (per capita income) in 1867-68.
• He founded the East India Association in London (1866).
• His disciples included Gokhale and Gandhi.
• He died in 1917.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Gokhale, Rash Behari Ghosh and Surendranath Banerjea presided over other sessions.