GS Paper 1 • Indian National Movement

Third Phase of National Movement (1930–1947)

The climactic era of India's struggle for independence. Spanning the Civil Disobedience Movement, Round Table Conferences, Government of India Act 1935, Quit India Movement, Subhash Chandra Bose & the INA, Cabinet Mission, and Partition.

36 Key Topics
1930–1947 Historical Era
Very High Prelims & Mains Rank

Chronology of Historic Events (1930–1947)

Master this sequence for UPSC Prelims chronology questions and Mains GS Paper 1 answer structuring:

Year Key Movement / Proposal Key Leaders / Officials Historical Impact & Outcome
1930 Dandi March & Civil Disobedience (CDM) Mahatma Gandhi Violation of salt law; massive non-violent boycott of British laws and revenue payments.
1931 Gandhi-Irwin Pact & Karachi Session Gandhi, Lord Irwin, Vallabhbhai Patel Suspension of CDM; Congress agreed to attend 2nd Round Table Conference; Karachi resolution on Fundamental Rights.
1932 Communal Award & Poona Pact Ramsay MacDonald, Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Separate electorates for Depressed Classes replaced by reserved seats in joint electorates (Poona Pact).
1935 Government of India Act 1935 British Parliament Abolished provincial dyarchy, introduced Provincial Autonomy, proposed an All-India Federation (never realized).
1937–39 Congress Provincial Ministries INC Leaders in 8 provinces Resigned in October 1939 in protest against unilateral involvement of India in World War II without consent.
1940 August Offer & Individual Satyagraha Lord Linlithgow, Vinoba Bhave, Nehru Dominion status promised after war; rejected by Congress. Vinoba Bhave chosen as first Individual Satyagrahi.
1942 Cripps Mission & Quit India Movement Stafford Cripps, Mahatma Gandhi Cripps failed; AICC passed Quit India Resolution (Aug 8, 1942) with slogan "Do or Die"; parallel governments formed.
1943–45 Azad Hind Fauj (INA) & Netaji Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore; battle of Kohima and Imphal; post-war Red Fort trials catalyzed revolt.
1946 RIN Mutiny & Cabinet Mission Plan Pethick-Lawrence, Cripps, Alexander Naval Ratings revolt in Bombay (Feb 1946); Cabinet Mission rejected Pakistan, proposed three-tier Union and Constituent Assembly.
1947 Mountbatten Plan & Independence Lord Mountbatten, Nehru, Patel, Jinnah 3rd June Plan; boundary commission under Radcliffe; Indian Independence Act passed on July 18, 1947; Partition and Freedom.

Thematic Topic Directory (36 Topics)

Explore full study notes, concept analyses, and Prelims practice questions for each topic:

Civil Disobedience & Round Table Conferences (1930–1934)
Civil Disobedience Movement Gandhi Irwin Pact (1931) Karachi Session of INC (1931) Three Round Table Conferences Communal Award (1932) Poona Pact (1932) Comparative Study: NCM vs. CDM Extent of Mass Participation
Government of India Act 1935 & Provincial Rule
Government of India Act 1935 Congress Ministries Post-1937 Resignation of Congress Ministries (1939) Pakistan Resolution (Lahore 1940)
World War II & Quit India Movement (1940–1942)
August Offer (1940) Individual Satyagraha (1940–41) AICC Meeting & Resolutions CWC at Wardha (1942) Decision on Mass Struggle Quit India Movement (August 1942) Parallel Governments (Jatiya Sarkar, Prati Sarkar)
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose & INA
Netaji & Indian National Army Netaji in Japan & East Asia Tokyo Conference (March 1942) Provisional Government of Free India (Arzi Hukumat)
Pacts, Missions & Transfer of Power (1944–1947)
C. Rajagopalachari (CR) Formula (1944) Desai-Liaquat Pact (1945) ML & Congress Response to Desai-Liaquat RIN Mutiny & Post-War Upsurge (1946) Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) Constituent Assembly of India Direct Action Day & Calcutta Killings (1946) Interim Government Formation Attlee's Declaration on Transfer of Power Mountbatten Plan (3rd June Plan 1947) Integration of Princely States Prominent Leaders & Their Strategic Roles Viceroys & Governor Generals of India