Correct Option
- Statement 2: The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) fostered Hindu-Muslim unity by merging with the Khilafat Movement. This alliance brought together diverse communities in a shared struggle against British rule, marking a period of unprecedented communal harmony.
- Statement 3: It effectively removed the fear of British authority from the minds of the people. Through widespread boycotts of foreign goods, government institutions, and non-violent defiance, ordinary Indians gained confidence to openly challenge the colonial administration.
Incorrect Options
- Statement 1: While the Non-Cooperation Movement was a large-scale mass movement, it was not the first instance of Congress mobilizing the masses. Earlier movements, such as the Swadeshi and Boycott Movements (1905-1911), had also witnessed significant popular participation and mass mobilization under leaders like Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.
- Statement 4: The Non-Cooperation Movement did not lead to the British government's willingness to grant significant political concessions to Indians. Instead, the British responded with repressive measures, including widespread arrests and suppression of the movement. Major constitutional reforms, such as the Government of India Act of 1935, were introduced much later, primarily following the Civil Disobedience Movement.