31st May 2021
Leaders of the session
- Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee was the president of the first session of the Indian National Congress.
- Annie Beasant was the first female President of the Indian National Congress.
- Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman president of the Indian National Congress.
- Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim President of the Indian National
Congress. - Rahimtulla Sayani was the second Muslim President of the Indian National
Congress. - George Yule was the first European President of the Indian National Congress.
- Dadhabhai Naoroji was the first Parsi President of the Indian National Congress.
- Sankaran Narayan was the first & the only Keralite President of the Indian National Congress Session.
- Hakim Ajmal Khan was the only person to be appointed as the President of INC, All India Muslim League & All India Khilafat Committee.
Year and Place |
President |
Details |
Bombay, 1885 |
W C Bonnerjee |
This was the first session. 72 delegates attended it. |
Calcutta, 1886 |
Dadabhai Naoroji |
National Congress and National Conference were merged. |
Madras, 1887 |
Syed Badruddin Tyabji |
607 delegates attended this. An appeal made to Muslims to join hands with other national leaders |
Calcutta, 1896 |
Rahimtullah M. Sayani |
National song ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung for the first time |
Benares, 1905 |
Gopal Krishna Gokhale |
Resentment was shown against the partition of Bengal |
Calcutta, 1906 |
Dadabhai Naoroji |
The word ‘swaraj’ was mentioned for the first time. |
Surat, 1907 |
Rash Behari Ghosh |
The ‘Surat Split’- Party splits into extremists and moderates |
Lahore, 1909 |
Madan Mohan Malaviya |
Disapproval was expressed over the separate electorates on basis of religion as given in Indian Councils Act, 1909. |
Calcutta, 1911 |
Bishan Narayan Dar |
National anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was sung for the first time |
Lucknow, 1916 |
Ambica Charan Mazumdar |
Lucknow Pact was signed. The extremists and moderates reunited. |
Calcutta, 1917 |
Annie Besant |
She was the first woman president of the INC |
Amritsar, 1919 |
Motilal Nehru |
The Jallianwalla Bagh massacre was condemned. Khilafat Movement was boosted |
Belgaum, 1924 |
M K Gandhi |
– |
Kanpur, 1925 |
Sarojini Naidu |
– |
Lahore, 1929 |
Jawaharlal Nehru |
This was an iconic session. Resolution for ‘Poorna Swaraj’ was passed. Civil Disobedience movement was launched. Gandhi- Irwin pact was endorsed. |
Karachi, 1931 |
Vallabhbhai Patel |
The Congress adopted a resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy |
Haripura, 1938 |
Subhas Chandra Bose |
National Planning Committed set-up under J.L Nehru |
Tripuri, 1939 |
Subhas Chandra Bose |
Bose had to resign due to differences with Gandhi |
Meerut, 1946 |
Acharya Kripalani |
Last session before independence |
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