What specific boycott actions defined the Non-Cooperation Movement's programme?

Of course. Here is a detailed answer to your question, structured for a UPSC aspirant.

Direct Answer

The Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM), formally launched by Mahatma Gandhi on 1st August 1920, had a well-defined programme of boycott that formed the core of its "negative" or passive aspect. The specific boycott actions, endorsed by the Indian National Congress at the Nagpur Session in December 1920, were:

1. Boycott of Legislative Councils: This involved the refusal to vote in or stand for the elections to the new legislative councils created by the Government of India Act, 1919. The elections were scheduled for November 1920, and their boycott was a central and immediate objective.
2. Boycott of Government Courts: Lawyers were asked to give up their practice, and litigants were encouraged to settle disputes through private arbitration via national panchayats.
3. Boycott of Government Schools and Colleges: Students were called upon to leave government-aided educational institutions and join newly established "national" schools and colleges.
4. Boycott of Foreign Goods: This was a crucial element aimed at hitting British economic interests. It involved a widespread boycott of foreign-made goods, especially textiles from Manchester and Liverpool. Public bonfires of foreign cloth became a common and symbolic form of this boycott.
5. Boycott of Government Honours and Titles: Holders of titles and honorary offices bestowed by the British were asked to renounce them. This was an attack on the "steel frame" of British prestige and patronage.
6. Boycott of Government Functions: Indians were to refuse attendance at any official or semi-official functions hosted by government officials.
7. Refusal of Service in Mesopotamia: The programme included a call for Indians to refuse to offer themselves as recruits for service in Mesopotamia, where the British were fighting.

Historical Context

The Non-Cooperation Movement did not emerge in a vacuum. It was the culmination of widespread discontent against British rule following World War I. The key triggers were:

• The Rowlatt Act (1919): These repressive acts, which allowed for indefinite detention without trial, were seen as a betrayal of wartime promises of self-governance.
• The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13th April 1919): The brutal killing of hundreds of unarmed civilians by General Dyer in Amritsar sent shockwaves across India and shattered any remaining faith in British justice. The subsequent Hunter Commission report was widely seen as a whitewash.
• The Khilafat Issue: Indian Muslims were agitated over the harsh terms of the Treaty of Sèvres (1920) imposed on the defeated Ottoman Empire, which dismembered the territory and undermined the temporal authority of the Sultan of Turkey, whom they regarded as their Caliph (Khalifa).

Gandhi saw an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims in a common struggle against the British. The programme of non-violent non-cooperation was approved at a special session of the Congress in Calcutta in September 1920 and formally ratified at the Nagpur Session in December 1920.

Timeline of Key Events

1. March 1919: The Rowlatt Act is passed, leading to a nationwide hartal and Satyagraha.
2. 13th April 1919: The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurs in Amritsar.
3. May 1920: The Treaty of Sèvres is published, angering Indian Muslims.
4. 1st August 1920: The Non-Cooperation Movement is formally launched. Lokmanya Tilak passes away on the same day.
5. September 1920: At the Calcutta Special Session, Congress approves the non-cooperation programme.
6. November 1920: Elections to legislative councils are held and widely boycotted by nationalists.
7. December 1920: The Nagpur Session of Congress ratifies the NCM programme, changing the Congress's goal from self-government to the attainment of Swaraj.
8. 5th February 1922: The Chauri Chaura incident occurs, where a violent mob sets fire to a police station.
9. 12th February 1922: Gandhi unilaterally withdraws the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Significance

The boycott programme of the NCM was significant for several reasons:

• Mass Mobilisation: For the first time, the Indian National Congress mobilised vast sections of the population—peasants, workers, students, women, and urban middle classes—on a national scale.
• Economic Impact: The boycott of foreign cloth was particularly successful. The value of imported foreign cloth dropped from ₹102 crore in 1920-21 to ₹57 crore in 1921-22. This provided a major stimulus to Indian handloom and textile production.
• Psychological Shift: The movement fostered a sense of fearlessness and self-reliance among Indians. By boycotting the symbols and institutions of British power, people challenged the moral authority of the Raj.
• Geographical Spread: Unlike the Swadeshi Movement (1905-08), which was largely confined to Bengal, the NCM had a much wider, all-India character.

Comparison with Swadeshi Boycott

UPSC Angle

For the UPSC Civil Services Examination, examiners are not just looking for a list of boycott actions. They expect candidates to demonstrate a deeper, analytical understanding.

1. Nuance and Specificity: Mentioning specific data (e.g., the drop in foreign cloth imports), key sessions (Calcutta vs. Nagpur), and leaders (e.g., C.R. Das initially opposed council boycott but later accepted it) shows depth.
2. Causality and Consequence: You must be able to link the boycott programme to its causes (Rowlatt, Khilafat) and its consequences (mass mobilisation, Chauri Chaura, withdrawal of the movement).
3. Comparative Analysis: The ability to compare the NCM's boycott with that of the Swadeshi Movement or the later Civil Disobedience Movement is a hallmark of a strong answer. This demonstrates an understanding of the evolution of the nationalist struggle.
4. **Understanding of Both "