The Indian National Congress became a mass movement for the first time during the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22)

 The Indian National Congress became a mass movement for the first time during the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) under Mahatma Gandhi.

Before this, Congress was mainly an organisation of educated elites, lawyers, and urban leaders. But during the Non-Cooperation Movement:

• peasants,
• workers,
• students,
• women,
• traders,

And ordinary people from villages and towns began participating in large numbers.

Why did it become a mass movement?

Gandhi connected nationalism with everyday issues and used simple methods like:

• boycott of foreign goods,
• surrender of titles,
• boycott of schools and courts,
• promotion of khadi and swadeshi.

This made the freedom struggle reach common people across India.

UPSC/School exam one-liner:

Congress became a mass movement for the first time during the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) led by Mahatma Gandhi.