| 1887 |
Madras |
Badruddin Tayabji |
First session to be presided by a Muslim. |
| 1888 |
Allahabad |
George Yule |
First session to be presided by an Englishman. |
| 1896 |
Kolkata |
Rahimtulla M Sayani |
The National Song, Vande Mataram was sung for the first time. |
| 1907 |
Surat |
Rashbihari Ghosh |
The INC split into two, one consisting of Moderates, led by Gokhale and the other consisting of Extremists, led by Tilak. |
| 1911 |
Kolkata |
Pandit Bishan Narayan Dar |
The National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana was sung for the first time. |
| 1916 |
Lucknow |
Ambica Charan Mazumdar |
Joint session with Muslim league in which the historic Lucknow pact was signed. |
| 1917 |
Kolkata |
Mrs Annie Besant |
First session to be presided by a Lady. |
| 1925 |
Kanpur |
Mrs Sarojini Naidu |
First session to be presided by an Indian lady. |
| 1929 |
Lahore |
Pt Jawaharlal Nehru |
The decision to launch a civil disobedience movement to achieve complete independence and to observe 26 Jan as Independence Day was taken. Nehru became the president for the first time. |
| 1946 |
Meerut |
Acharya JB Kriplani |
Last pre-independence session of the INC. |
| 1948 |
Jaipur |
Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya |
First session after Independence. |