Question map
With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs : Person Position held 1. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru : President, All India Liberal Federation 2. K. C. Neogy : Member, The Constituent Assembly 3. P. C. Joshi : General Secretary, Communist Party of India Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4 (1, 2 and 3) because all three pairs are historically accurate within the context of the Indian National Movement.
- Pair 1 is correct: Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, a prominent lawyer and statesman, broke away from the Congress after the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms to found the All India Liberal Federation, serving as its President.
- Pair 2 is correct: K.C. Neogy was a distinguished politician from West Bengal who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India. He later became the Chairman of the first Finance Commission of India.
- Pair 3 is correct: P.C. Joshi was a key figure in the left-wing movement and served as the first General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) from 1935 to 1947, playing a pivotal role in the party's growth during the independence struggle.
Since all three individuals held the specified positions, Option 4 is the right choice.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis question punishes 'Congress-centric' history reading. It demands knowledge of the 'Alternative' streams: Liberals (Sapru), Communists (Joshi), and Technocrats (Neogy). The key is to recognize that UPSC tests the *highest* designation held by leaders of non-Congress groups.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: In the context of the Indian National Movement, did Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru serve as President of the All India Liberal Federation?
- Statement 2: In the context of the Indian National Movement, was K. C. Neogy a member of the Constituent Assembly of India?
- Statement 3: In the context of the Indian National Movement, did P. C. Joshi serve as General Secretary of the Communist Party of India?
Defines the Indian Liberal Federation (All India Liberal Federation) as a distinct organisation formed by moderate/liberal leaders who left Congress, identifying the institutional context in which a 'president' post would exist.
A student could look up lists of office-holders of this specific body (formed under Surendranath Banerjee) to check whether Sapru's name appears as president.
Lists Tej Bahadur Sapru explicitly among 'The Liberals' participating in conferences, showing he was a recognized liberal leader associated with groups that would participate in or form the Federation.
Use this evidence of Sapru's prominent liberal identity to search organisational records or leadership lists of the Liberal Federation for his role.
Refers to 'Members of the Indian Liberal Party such as Tej Bahadur Sapru...', linking Sapru to the organised liberal political grouping active in negotiations and pacts.
Since the Indian Liberal Party and the Indian Liberal Federation are closely related in historical usage, compare leadership lists of both bodies in secondary sources to test the presidency claim.
Again groups Sapru with named liberal leaders (Basu, C.Y. Chintamani, V.S. Srinivasa Sastri), indicating a circle of senior liberals who were likely candidates for federation leadership roles.
Cross-reference the names of prominent liberals given here with archival records or contemporary newspapers that reported appointments to Federation offices.
Shows Sapru's involvement in formal constitutional and parliamentary efforts (Commonwealth of India Bill), underscoring his stature as a senior constitutional liberal suitable for presidential office in liberal organisations.
Given his high profile in constitutional initiatives, check organisational histories of the Liberal Federation for whether such senior constitutionalists were elected president, and whether Sapru was among them.
States that members of the Constituent Assembly were chosen by provincial legislatures after 1945–46 elections (not by direct popular vote).
A student could check whether K. C. Neogy held a seat in any provincial legislature in 1946 or was nominated by one to infer likelihood of Assembly membership.
Notes the Assembly comprised representatives of all major communities and included 'all important personalities of India at that time.'
One could compare published lists of 'important personalities' or official member lists of the Constituent Assembly to see if K. C. Neogy's name appears.
Gives an explicit list of members of the Congress Experts Committee preparing material for the Assembly, illustrating that such preparatory bodies had named membership lists.
Use this pattern—consult analogous membership lists (Experts committees, Assembly rosters) to look for K. C. Neogy's inclusion or exclusion.
Records the Constituent Assembly's inaugural meeting date and presiding officer, implying official proceedings with attendance records.
A student could consult the Assembly's inaugural proceedings or attendance roll for August 14–15, 1947 to verify whether K. C. Neogy was present as a member.
Explains that the Assembly was dominated by the Indian National Congress but included varying groups, indicating membership was politicized and documented by party/region.
Cross-check party rosters and regional representation lists from 1946–47 to see if K. C. Neogy was nominated by a party or region to the Assembly.
Lists P.C. Joshi among the notable leaders of the CPI, indicating he was a prominent figure within the party.
A student could check lists or timelines of CPI office-holders (e.g., party leadership rolls) to see if prominent figures like Joshi held the General Secretary post.
Places P.C. Joshi among early communist leaders active in labour and party formation in the late 1920s, indicating long-term involvement.
Knowing Joshi's early and sustained prominence, a student could search period-specific party records or histories (1930s–1950s) when a General Secretaryship would likely be held.
Refers explicitly to the party post 'general secretary' (B.T. Ranadive) and links that office to major policy lines (the B.T. Ranadive line).
Since the title 'general secretary' is shown as an influential CPI office, a student could consult lists of individuals who held that specific office to confirm whether Joshi was among them.
Names other prominent CPI leaders (Ajoy Ghosh, S.A. Dange, S.V. Ghate) involved in party decisions at congresses, showing leadership roles rotated among recognizable figures.
A student could compare named leaders across congresses/periods to infer when leadership changed and then check if Joshi's prominence corresponds to a period when he might have been General Secretary.
Describes the formalisation and organisational development of the CPI in the 1920s, implying that by later decades the party had established offices and leadership structures.
Given that the CPI had formal structures early on, a student could look for documented holders of formal posts (like General Secretary) in party archives or standard histories to test the claim about Joshi.
- [THE VERDICT]: Solvable via Elimination + Cross-Subject Knowledge. Sapru and Joshi are standard history (Spectrum/NCERT); Neogy is a Polity fact (First Finance Commission Chairman).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: 'Personalities outside the Congress Fold' – specifically the leadership of the Liberals, the Left, and the Technocrats in the Constituent Assembly.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these pairings: N.M. Joshi (AITUC Founder), M.N. Roy (CPI Founder/Radical Humanism), Syama Prasad Mookerjee (Hindu Mahasabha/Jana Sangh), Acharya Narendra Dev (CSP), and B.R. Ambedkar (Independent Labour Party).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When reading Modern History, create a separate table for 'Political Parties other than Congress'. Column 1: Party Name. Column 2: Key Leader. Column 3: Official Post (President/Gen Sec). Column 4: Stance on Quit India/WWII.
The Indian Liberal Federation (Indian Liberal Party) was the organisation formed by moderate/liberal leaders who split from the Congress and is the organisation named in the statement.
High-yield for UPSC because it explains the political alternative to the Congress-led mass movement, illuminates the role of moderates in constitutional negotiations, and connects to questions on political groups and their responses to reforms. Mastering this helps answer comparative questions about moderates vs extremists and organizational history.
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > 4.2 Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms > p. 44
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Second Round Table Conference > p. 384
Tej Bahadur Sapru is repeatedly identified with the liberal/moderate political grouping and as a participant in high-level constitutional discussions.
Important for UPSC because it situates a key non-Congress leader in the constitutional and negotiation history of the freedom movement (Round Table Conferences, Nehru Committee). Knowing such personalities aids answers on negotiations, committee memberships and alternative political strategies.
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Civil Disobedience Movement the Salt Satyagraha and Other Upsurges > p. 385
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Second Round Table Conference > p. 384
The All Parties Conference set up the Nehru Committee to draft a constitution, and Sapru was a member of that committee.
Essential for questions on constitutional developments before independence — it shows the role of representative committees, the debate over dominion status versus complete independence, and the contributions of non-Congress figures. This links to broader topics like constitutional reform, communal representation and the Nehru Report.
- Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 15: Struggle for Swaraj > Boycott of the Simon Commission > p. 284
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 18: Simon Commission and the Nehru Report > Nehru Report > p. 361
Members of the Constituent Assembly were chosen by provincial legislatures rather than by universal adult franchise, which determines how membership was constituted.
High-yield: explains the Assembly's representative basis and legitimacy — often tested in questions on the origin and composition of the Constitution. Connects to topics on electoral systems, federal-provincial relations and democratic representation; enables answers about who could become a member and why certain groups were or were not included.
- THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 12: FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION > 1.1 The making of the Constituent Assembly > p. 318
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > The features of the scheme were: > p. 12
The Indian National Congress dominated membership and therefore heavily influenced who represented regions and political positions in the Assembly.
High-yield: helps analyse political influence on constitution-making and the role of major parties and leaders; relevant for questions on ideological trends, power dynamics, and how party strength shaped constitutional outcomes.
- THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 12: FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION > 1.1 The making of the Constituent Assembly > p. 318
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > EXPERTS COMMITTEE OF THE CONGRESS > p. 16
The Congress appointed an Experts Committee (with named leaders) to prepare material for the Constituent Assembly, showing pre-assembly organisational influence on membership and content.
Moderate-high: useful for questions about preparatory bodies, procedural origins of the Constitution, and contributions of individual leaders; connects to studies of institutional preparations and drafting processes.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > EXPERTS COMMITTEE OF THE CONGRESS > p. 16
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > EXPERTS COMMITTEE OF THE CONGRESS > p. 16
Understanding names like A.K. Gopalan, S.A. Dange, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, P.C. Joshi and Ajoy Ghosh is central to identifying CPI leadership and its role in the national movement.
High-yield for questions asking to identify or match leaders with organisations or movements; connects to party organisation, parliamentary representation and regional leadership. Mastering this helps answer leader-identification, chronology and role-based MCQs and short-answer questions.
- Politics in India since Independence, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Era of One-party Dominance > Congress as social and ideological coalition > p. 37
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 32: The Movement of the Working Class > Late 1920s > p. 588
K.C. Neogy is most famous not just for the Constituent Assembly, but for being the Chairman of the **First Finance Commission** of India. If you knew your Polity basics, you would know he was a heavyweight eligible for the Assembly.
Anchor on Statement 3 (P.C. Joshi). NCERT Class XII Political Science explicitly lists him as a top CPI leader. If 3 is correct, Options A and B are eliminated. You are left with C (3 only) or D (1, 2, 3). Now, look at Statement 1: Sapru is the *defining* face of the Liberals (Sapru-Jayakar duo). If 1 is true, the answer *must* be D. You didn't even need to know K.C. Neogy.
Link P.C. Joshi to **International Relations & World History**: His tenure as Gen Sec (1935-47) coincided with the 'People's War' line where CPI supported the British in WWII due to the USSR alliance. This explains the CPI's isolation during the Quit India Movement.