SSC
The Indian National Congress split into the Moderates and the Extremists at which session?
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Answer: Option D — Surat session (1907)
Detailed Solution
The Surat Split took place at the annual session of the Indian National Congress held at Surat, Gujarat, in December 1907. It divided the Congress into two groups: the Moderates and the Extremists.
The two groups differed in their aims and methods:
The Moderates, led by leaders such as Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, Rash Behari Ghosh and Surendranath Banerjee, believed in constitutional methods such as petitions, prayers, protests, speeches and resolutions. They wanted gradual reforms and self-government within the British Empire, and had faith in British justice.
The Extremists, led by the "Lal-Bal-Pal" trio (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal) and Aurobindo Ghosh, wanted swaraj (self-rule) and favoured mass agitation, boycott of British goods, swadeshi and national education. Tilak declared, "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it."
Background: At the Calcutta session of 1906, presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji, a compromise had been reached, and resolutions on swadeshi, boycott, national education and swaraj were passed. In 1907, the Moderates wanted to dilute these resolutions. The Extremists wanted Lala Lajpat Rai or Tilak to preside over the session; the Moderates chose Rash Behari Ghosh. The session, originally planned for Nagpur (an Extremist stronghold), was shifted to Surat. Amid chaos, with shoes and chairs thrown, the session broke up. The Moderates took control of the Congress and expelled the Extremists.
The British took advantage of the split to suppress the Extremists. In 1908, Tilak was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Mandalay (Burma) for sedition. The government also announced the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) to win over the Moderates.
The two groups were reunited at the Lucknow session of the Congress in 1916, presided over by Ambika Charan Majumdar. In the same year, the Congress and the Muslim League signed the Lucknow Pact.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Calcutta session (1906) adopted the goal of swaraj under Dadabhai Naoroji.
- ✗The Lucknow session (1916) reunited the Moderates and Extremists.
- ✗The Banaras session (1905) was presided over by Gokhale.
Quick tip
Remember: Surat Split = December 1907 (Moderates vs Extremists, President Rash Behari Ghosh); reunited at Lucknow (1916, Lucknow Pact); Calcutta 1906 = swaraj goal (Naoroji); Tilak jailed in Mandalay (1908).
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Swadeshi Movement & Early Nationalism — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Swadeshi Movement & Early Nationalism, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the growth of Indian nationalism from the early 1900s to the First World War: the partition of Bengal in 1905, the Swadeshi and Boycott movement, the rise of extremist leaders such as Lal, Bal and Pal, the Surat split of 1907, and the Home Rule Leagues of Tilak and Annie Besant. Typical questions cover the year the partition of Bengal was announced and annulled (1905 and 1911), the slogans and leaders of the Swadeshi movement, and the founders of the two Home Rule Leagues (1916). Be clear about the difference between the moderates, who used petitions, and the extremists, who called for swaraj and mass action. Practise the Swadeshi movement and early nationalism questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.