Indian National Movement- 1 | History for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


Indian National 
Movement
Page 2


Indian National 
Movement
Factors 
Promoting the 
Growth of 
Nationalism in 
India 
1. Political Unity 
1. For the first time, most of the regions in India were united politically and 
administratively under a single power (the British rule). It introduced a uniform 
system of law and government.
2. Development of Communication and Transport 
1. The introduction of railways, telegraphs and postal services and the construction 
of roads and canals facilitated communication among the people. All these brought 
Indians nearer to each other and provided the facility to organise the national 
movement on an all India basis.
3. English Language and Western Education 
1. The English-educated Indians, who led the national movement, developed Indian 
nationalism and organized it. Western education facilitated the spread of the 
concepts of liberty, equality, freedom and nationalism and sowed the seeds of 
nationalism.
4. The Role of the Press 
1. The Indian Press, both English and vernacular, had also aroused the national 
consciousness.
5. Social and Religious Movements of the Nineteenth Century 
1. The leaders of various organizations like the Brahmo Samaj, Ramakrishna 
Mission, Arya Samaj, and Theosophical Society generated a feeling of regard 
for and pride in the motherland.
Page 3


Indian National 
Movement
Factors 
Promoting the 
Growth of 
Nationalism in 
India 
1. Political Unity 
1. For the first time, most of the regions in India were united politically and 
administratively under a single power (the British rule). It introduced a uniform 
system of law and government.
2. Development of Communication and Transport 
1. The introduction of railways, telegraphs and postal services and the construction 
of roads and canals facilitated communication among the people. All these brought 
Indians nearer to each other and provided the facility to organise the national 
movement on an all India basis.
3. English Language and Western Education 
1. The English-educated Indians, who led the national movement, developed Indian 
nationalism and organized it. Western education facilitated the spread of the 
concepts of liberty, equality, freedom and nationalism and sowed the seeds of 
nationalism.
4. The Role of the Press 
1. The Indian Press, both English and vernacular, had also aroused the national 
consciousness.
5. Social and Religious Movements of the Nineteenth Century 
1. The leaders of various organizations like the Brahmo Samaj, Ramakrishna 
Mission, Arya Samaj, and Theosophical Society generated a feeling of regard 
for and pride in the motherland.
Factors 
Promoting the 
Growth of 
Nationalism in 
India
6. Economic Exploitation by the British 
1. The English systematically ruined the Indian trade and native industries.
7. Racial Discrimination 
1. The Revolt of 1857 created a kind of permanent bitterness and suspicion between 
the British and the Indians. India as a nation and Indians as individuals were 
subjected to insults, humiliation and contemptuous treatment.
8. Administration of Lytton 
1. Lord Lytton arranged the Delhi Durbar at a time when the larger part of India was in 
the grip of famine. He passed the Vernacular Press Act which curbed the liberty of 
the Indian Press. His Arms Act was a means to prevent the Indians from keeping 
arms. All these measures created widespread discontent among the Indians.
9. The Ilbert Bill controversy 
1. The Ilbert Bill was presented in the Central Legislature during the Viceroyalty of 
Lord Ripon. The Bill tried to remove racial inequality between Indian and European 
judges in courts. This Bill was opposed by the British residents in India. Ultimately 
the Bill was modified.
10. Rise of Middle-Class Intelligentsia
11. Understanding of Contradictions in Indian and Colonial Interests 
12. Impact of Contemporary Movements in the World
Page 4


Indian National 
Movement
Factors 
Promoting the 
Growth of 
Nationalism in 
India 
1. Political Unity 
1. For the first time, most of the regions in India were united politically and 
administratively under a single power (the British rule). It introduced a uniform 
system of law and government.
2. Development of Communication and Transport 
1. The introduction of railways, telegraphs and postal services and the construction 
of roads and canals facilitated communication among the people. All these brought 
Indians nearer to each other and provided the facility to organise the national 
movement on an all India basis.
3. English Language and Western Education 
1. The English-educated Indians, who led the national movement, developed Indian 
nationalism and organized it. Western education facilitated the spread of the 
concepts of liberty, equality, freedom and nationalism and sowed the seeds of 
nationalism.
4. The Role of the Press 
1. The Indian Press, both English and vernacular, had also aroused the national 
consciousness.
5. Social and Religious Movements of the Nineteenth Century 
1. The leaders of various organizations like the Brahmo Samaj, Ramakrishna 
Mission, Arya Samaj, and Theosophical Society generated a feeling of regard 
for and pride in the motherland.
Factors 
Promoting the 
Growth of 
Nationalism in 
India
6. Economic Exploitation by the British 
1. The English systematically ruined the Indian trade and native industries.
7. Racial Discrimination 
1. The Revolt of 1857 created a kind of permanent bitterness and suspicion between 
the British and the Indians. India as a nation and Indians as individuals were 
subjected to insults, humiliation and contemptuous treatment.
8. Administration of Lytton 
1. Lord Lytton arranged the Delhi Durbar at a time when the larger part of India was in 
the grip of famine. He passed the Vernacular Press Act which curbed the liberty of 
the Indian Press. His Arms Act was a means to prevent the Indians from keeping 
arms. All these measures created widespread discontent among the Indians.
9. The Ilbert Bill controversy 
1. The Ilbert Bill was presented in the Central Legislature during the Viceroyalty of 
Lord Ripon. The Bill tried to remove racial inequality between Indian and European 
judges in courts. This Bill was opposed by the British residents in India. Ultimately 
the Bill was modified.
10. Rise of Middle-Class Intelligentsia
11. Understanding of Contradictions in Indian and Colonial Interests 
12. Impact of Contemporary Movements in the World
Political Associations Before the Indian National Congress 
Most of the political associations in the early half of the nineteenth century were dominated by wealthy and 
aristocratic elements. 
They were local or regional in character. 
Through long petitions to the British Parliament most of them demanded—
• administrative reforms
• association of Indians with the administration
• spread of education
The political associations of the second half of the nineteenth century came to be increasingly dominated by the 
educated middle class—the lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers, etc.,—and they had a wider perspective and a 
larger agenda
Page 5


Indian National 
Movement
Factors 
Promoting the 
Growth of 
Nationalism in 
India 
1. Political Unity 
1. For the first time, most of the regions in India were united politically and 
administratively under a single power (the British rule). It introduced a uniform 
system of law and government.
2. Development of Communication and Transport 
1. The introduction of railways, telegraphs and postal services and the construction 
of roads and canals facilitated communication among the people. All these brought 
Indians nearer to each other and provided the facility to organise the national 
movement on an all India basis.
3. English Language and Western Education 
1. The English-educated Indians, who led the national movement, developed Indian 
nationalism and organized it. Western education facilitated the spread of the 
concepts of liberty, equality, freedom and nationalism and sowed the seeds of 
nationalism.
4. The Role of the Press 
1. The Indian Press, both English and vernacular, had also aroused the national 
consciousness.
5. Social and Religious Movements of the Nineteenth Century 
1. The leaders of various organizations like the Brahmo Samaj, Ramakrishna 
Mission, Arya Samaj, and Theosophical Society generated a feeling of regard 
for and pride in the motherland.
Factors 
Promoting the 
Growth of 
Nationalism in 
India
6. Economic Exploitation by the British 
1. The English systematically ruined the Indian trade and native industries.
7. Racial Discrimination 
1. The Revolt of 1857 created a kind of permanent bitterness and suspicion between 
the British and the Indians. India as a nation and Indians as individuals were 
subjected to insults, humiliation and contemptuous treatment.
8. Administration of Lytton 
1. Lord Lytton arranged the Delhi Durbar at a time when the larger part of India was in 
the grip of famine. He passed the Vernacular Press Act which curbed the liberty of 
the Indian Press. His Arms Act was a means to prevent the Indians from keeping 
arms. All these measures created widespread discontent among the Indians.
9. The Ilbert Bill controversy 
1. The Ilbert Bill was presented in the Central Legislature during the Viceroyalty of 
Lord Ripon. The Bill tried to remove racial inequality between Indian and European 
judges in courts. This Bill was opposed by the British residents in India. Ultimately 
the Bill was modified.
10. Rise of Middle-Class Intelligentsia
11. Understanding of Contradictions in Indian and Colonial Interests 
12. Impact of Contemporary Movements in the World
Political Associations Before the Indian National Congress 
Most of the political associations in the early half of the nineteenth century were dominated by wealthy and 
aristocratic elements. 
They were local or regional in character. 
Through long petitions to the British Parliament most of them demanded—
• administrative reforms
• association of Indians with the administration
• spread of education
The political associations of the second half of the nineteenth century came to be increasingly dominated by the 
educated middle class—the lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers, etc.,—and they had a wider perspective and a 
larger agenda
Political Associations in Bengal
The Bangabhasha Prakasika Sabha was formed in 1836 by associates of Raja Rammohan Roy. 
The Zamindari Association, more popularly known as the ‘Landholders’ Society’, was founded in 1838 to safeguard 
the interests of the landlords. 
? Although limited in its objectives, the Landholders’ Society marked the beginning of an organized political activity and use of 
methods of constitutional agitation for the redressal of grievances. 
The Bengal British India Society was founded in 1843 with the object of “the collection and dissemination of 
information relating to the actual condition of the people of British India... and to employ such other means of 
peaceful and lawful character as may appear calculated to secure the welfare, extend the just rights and advance the 
interests of all classes of our fellow subjects”
In 1851, both the Landholders’ Society and the Bengal British India Society merged into the British Indian 
Association. They sent some suggestions to the British Parliament to be included in the Company Charter
? establishment of a separate legislature of a popular character
? separation of executive from judicial functions 
? reduction in salaries of higher officers
? abolition of salt duty, abkari and stamp duties