Q. Consider the following statements about Indian National Association:
1. It was founded & led Dadabhai Naoroji & Sisir Kumar Ghosh.
2. It led a campaign against the repressive arms act and the vernacular press act.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Indian Association of Calcutta (also known as the Indian National Association) superseded the Indian League and was founded in 1876 by younger nationalists of Bengal led by Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose, who were getting discontented with the conservative and pro-landlord policies of the British Indian Association.
The Indian Association was the most important of pre-Congress associations and aimed to “promote by every legitimate means the political, intellectual and material advancement of the people.” It set out to—
- create a strong public opinion on political questions, and
- unify Indian people in a common political programme.
It protested against the reduction of age limit in 1877 for candidates of the Indian Civil Service examination.
- The association demanded simultaneous holding of civil service examination in England and India and Indianisation of higher administrative posts.
- It led a campaign against the repressive arms act and the vernacular press act.
Source: Spectrum’s A Brief History of Modern India.

