Question 64 from UPSC CSE 2015 - Modern History

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: Identify that the question hinges on superlative keywords like 'first woman' and 'first Muslim' Congress president. Recall that Annie Besant, not Sarojini Naidu, was the first woman president, and Badruddin Tyabji indeed was the first Muslim president of the INC. Thus, Statement 1 is incorrect, Statement 2 is correct.

Key Info: Key facts about the early presidents of the Indian National Congress:

- **Annie Besant** was the first woman president of the INC, presiding over the 1917 Calcutta session. Of Irish origin, she was a prominent Theosophist and supporter of Indian self-rule.
- **Sarojini Naidu** was the first Indian woman to become INC president, leading the 1925 Kanpur session.
- **Badruddin Tyabji** was the first Muslim president of the INC, elected in 1887 at the Madras session. A lawyer and social reformer, he promoted secularism and unity within the Congress.

Formed in 1885, the Indian National Congress was central to the Indian freedom movement. Its leadership progressively broke social, gender, and religious barriers.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Both 1 and 2

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements: The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.

The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?