Which of the following statements about the resolution adopted in the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress with regard to fundamental rights and economic policy is/are correct? 1. It was opposed by Ambalal Sarabhai. 2. Its 20 points included demands for civil liberties and adult suffrage. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Correct — C, both 1 and 2. The Karachi session of the Congress (March 1931), presided over by Vallabhbhai Patel, adopted the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy, drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru and moved by Gandhi. Its roughly twenty clauses guaranteed civil liberties — free speech, a free press and freedom of assembly — together with universal adult franchise (adult suffrage), so statement 2 is correct. Its socialistic economic clauses, such as state control of key industries and protection of workers and peasants, alarmed sections of big business, and the official key records that the resolution was opposed by the industrialist Ambalal Sarabhai — so statement 1 is taken as correct as well.
- (a)1 only — Statement 2 is also correct: the resolution's roughly twenty points did include civil liberties and adult suffrage.
- (b)2 only — Statement 1 is also taken as correct: the resolution's economic clauses drew opposition from industrialists such as Ambalal Sarabhai.
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2 — Both statements are correct, so 'neither' cannot be the answer.
The Karachi Resolution of 1931 was the Congress's first detailed statement pairing a charter of fundamental rights with an economic programme. The rights half promised civil liberties, equality irrespective of caste, creed or sex, universal adult franchise and free primary education; the economic half promised a living wage, lower rent and revenue, and state ownership or control of key industries — clauses that unsettled Indian capitalists.
Keep the two halves distinct. The rights clauses (civil liberties, adult suffrage) make statement 2 solid; the economic clauses explain why an industrialist would oppose it, which is the basis of statement 1 as the key reads it.
- The Karachi session (March 1931) was presided over by Vallabhbhai Patel.
- The Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy was drafted by Nehru and moved by Gandhi.
- Its rights charter promised civil liberties and universal adult franchise.
- The session met just after the Gandhi–Irwin Pact and the execution of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.
- Crediting Gandhi (rather than Nehru) with drafting the resolution.
- Forgetting that universal adult franchise was part of its rights charter.
Asked on the content and reception of the 1931 Karachi Resolution — its rights charter and the opposition its economic clauses drew.
For the Karachi session of Indian National Congress in 1931 presided over by Sardar Patel, who drafted the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Programme?
- (a) Mahatma Gandhi
- (b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
- (c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
- (d) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Answer(b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
The same Karachi Resolution, pinned on its drafter (Nehru) and its presiding officer (Patel) — the authorship detail behind statement 2 of this question.
Who among the following drafted the resolution on fundamental rights for the Karachi Session of Congress in 1931?
- (a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
- (b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
- (c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
- (d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer(b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Reinforces the same fact from an earlier paper: the Karachi resolution on fundamental rights was drafted by Nehru, with editorial changes by Gandhi.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy at the 1931 Karachi session was drafted by
- (a)Mahatma Gandhi
- (b)Jawaharlal Nehru
- (c)Vallabhbhai Patel
- (d)Rajendra Prasad
Answer(b) Jawaharlal Nehru — it was moved by Gandhi but drafted by Nehru.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The 1931 Karachi session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by
- (a)Jawaharlal Nehru
- (b)Vallabhbhai Patel
- (c)Subhas Chandra Bose
- (d)Rajendra Prasad
Answer(b) Vallabhbhai Patel — he presided over the Karachi session.