Answer:
(a) First session: The Indian National Congress was founded with the efforts of Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British officer. Its first session was held from 28 December 1885 at the Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Mumbai. Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee presided over it.
(b) Present delegates: 72 delegates from different parts of India attended. Among them were Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Kashinath Trimbak Telang, Dinshaw Wacha, Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade and S. Subramania Iyer. Most of them were lawyers, journalists, teachers and social workers.
(c) Resolutions passed:
- A Royal Commission should be appointed to inquire into the working of the Indian administration.
- The India Council of the Secretary of State should be abolished.
- The legislative councils should be expanded and should include elected Indian members.
- The Indian Civil Service examination should be held simultaneously in India and England, and the age limit raised.
- Military expenditure should be reduced; the annexation of Upper Burma was opposed.
