UPSC Prelims 2026 · Question 6 of 96
UPSC Prelims 2026 question on Forward Bloc Formation 1939
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2026
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectModern History
- TopicIndian National Movement
- DifficultyHard
- TypeStatement
Which of the following factors contributed to the formation of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939?
1. Bose failed to win the confidence of Mahatma Gandhi.
2. The Congress Left was disunited and failed to support Bose.
3. The Communists did not support Bose in his endeavours.
4. The supporters of M.N. Roy and socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan preferred Congress unity to supporting Bose.
Select the answer using the code given below:
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Answer: B. 1, 2 and 4
Verdict
Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct, so the answer is Option (b).
Statement by statement
Statement 1 is correct: Subhas Chandra Bose failed to win the confidence of Mahatma Gandhi. After Bose's re-election as INC President in 1939, Gandhi declared the defeat of his candidate, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, as his own defeat, indicating a lack of confidence in Bose.
Statement 2 is correct: The Congress Left was disunited and failed to support Bose. The Congress Socialist Party, the Communists and the Royists were fragmented and did not present a united front behind Bose during the Tripuri Crisis.
Statement 3 is not correct: While the Communists did not support Bose's radical approach, this was not a direct factor in the formation of the Forward Bloc. Their stance was more about maintaining unity under Gandhi rather than directly opposing Bose's endeavours.
Statement 4 is correct: Supporters of M.N. Roy and socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan preferred Congress unity over supporting Bose. They abstained from voting on the Govind Ballabh Pant resolution, which effectively withdrew their support from Bose to prevent a split in the Congress.