A Congress worker of the early 1920s keeps a diary of how the national movement grew beyond the big cities. He writes of new party branches opening in distant districts, of workers crossing into the territories ruled by Indian princes, and of rich traders and mill owners who began to send money to the party, some openly and some in secret. He wonders how the party came to reach groups it had never touched before.
On what basis were the provincial committees of the Congress organised in this period?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → On the linguistic regions of the country
Option (1) On the boundaries of the British Indian provinces — Incorrect. The committees did not follow British provinces; Gandhiji saw these as <strong>artificial boundaries</strong> drawn by the rulers.
Option (2) On the borders of the princely states — Incorrect. Princely states got Praja Mandals to spread the nationalist creed; their borders played no part in the committees.
Option (3) On the linguistic regions of the country — Correct. Gandhiji wanted the message carried in the mother tongue, so the provincial committees were based on <strong>linguistic regions</strong>.
Option (4) On the religious communities of each area — Incorrect. The Congress drew followers from different religious traditions, and its committees followed language areas instead.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.2 A people’s leader … |