Question

Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?
A. W.C Banerjee
B. A.O. Hume
C. Ani Besant
D. Moti Lal Nehru

Answer 1

Hint: The Indian National Congress (or INC) party was established in the year 1885. Then it grew to become one of the most important and prominent political parties during the fight for freedom of India. Its first session was held in the year 1885.

Complete answer:
> The basic objective behind the establishment of the INC was to propose the much needed economic reforms in India.
> Its founding members at that time wanted a larger role in the making of British policy for India.
> On 28th December 1885, the first session of INC was held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay.
> It continued till 31st December. This organisation was started by a retired British civil servant Allan Octavian Hume (A.O. Hume) along with two Indians Dadabhai Naoroji and Dinshaw Wacha.
> Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W.C. Bonnerjee) was the first president of INC. Its first conference was attended by 72 political delegates from all over India.

Thus, the correct option is option (A).

Additional Information:
• The President of INC at the time of independence of India was J. B. Kripalani.
• Annie Besant was the first woman President of this organisation. Whereas Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman President of INC.
• Mahatma Gandhi headed the INC only once in the year 1924 at the Belgaum session.

Note:
During the period 1885 to 1933, the tenure of the INC president was only for one year only. Further as a tradition, the post of congress President is rotated between prominent members of the party.