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Non-Cooperation Movement ICSE Class 10 History

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History & CivicsICSE Class 10 · Mahatma Gandhi and the National Movement

The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22): Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact (ICSE Class 10 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 in reaction to the Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy of 13 April 1919 and the Khilafat issue. Its programme combined boycott of schools, courts, titles and foreign cloth with national schools, panchayats and khadi. Gandhi suspended it in February 1922 after violence at Chauri Chaura. It made the national movement a mass movement.

Three causes led to the 1920 movement; Chauri Chaura violence made Gandhi suspend it in 1922, yet it had turned the struggle into a mass movement.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Non-Cooperation Movement: Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact

1. Causes.

  • *Rowlatt Act (March 1919):* passed in spite of the opposition of every Indian member of the Imperial Legislative Council. It allowed arrest without warrant on suspicion, detention without trial for up to two years, secret trials in special courts without jury or appeal, and press restrictions. People said: no appeal, no vakil, no daleel. Gandhi called a nationwide hartal on 6 April 1919.
  • *Jallianwala Bagh (13 April 1919):* at Amritsar, a peaceful gathering on Baisakhi, partly to protest the arrest of Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr Satyapal, was fired upon without warning by troops under General Dyer, who blocked the only exit; about 1,650 rounds were fired and hundreds died. The mild response of the Hunter Committee and praise for Dyer in Britain angered Indians. Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood.
  • *Khilafat Movement:* after the First World War Turkey was treated harshly and its Sultan, regarded by Indian Muslims as Khalifa, was weakened. The Ali brothers, Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, led the agitation. Gandhi supported it as a chance for Hindu-Muslim unity against British rule.

2. Programme (special Calcutta session, September 1920; Nagpur, December 1920).

  • *Negative:* surrender of titles and honorary posts; boycott of government schools, courts and council elections; boycott of foreign goods, especially cloth, and government functions.
  • *Constructive:* national schools and colleges (Jamia Millia Islamia, Kashi Vidyapith); panchayats to settle disputes; spinning on the charkha and wearing khadi; removal of untouchability and Hindu-Muslim unity; the Tilak Swaraj Fund.

3. Suspension. On 4 February 1922 at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district an angry crowd burnt a police station and 22 policemen died. Gandhi, committed to non-violence, suspended the movement in February 1922.

4. Impact.
1. The first truly mass movement, with peasants, workers, students, women and traders.
2. The Congress became a mass organisation reaching villages with a new constitution.
3. A high point of Hindu-Muslim unity.
4. People lost fear of the government and of jail.
5. Swadeshi, khadi and national education spread; the charkha symbolised self-reliance.
6. Gandhi became the undisputed leader.

Be careful. The Dandi March belongs to Civil Disobedience. The clauses of the Simon Commission are not tested.

Non-Cooperation Movement: Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact: key facts

Three causes
  • Rowlatt Act March 1919
  • Jallianwala Bagh 13 April 1919
  • Khilafat Movement
Syllabus causes.
Programme
Negative: boycott schools, courts, titles, foreign cloth | Constructive: national schools, panchayats, khadi
Two parts.
Suspension
  • Chauri Chaura
  • 4 February 1922
  • Gorakhpur
  • 22 policemen
Four facts.
Khilafat leaders
  • Muhammad Ali
  • Shaukat Ali
  • Gandhi supported
Names.

How to answer Non-Cooperation Movement: Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact questions

Expect: causes (3 marks per cause), programme (4-6 marks), suspension and impact (3-4 marks). Identify Jallianwala Bagh from a picture or passage.

  1. 1Name each cause and give a fact and a year.
  2. 2Divide the programme into boycott and constructive.
  3. 3Link suspension to Chauri Chaura, then impact.
  4. 4Describe the tragedy neutrally and factually.

Non-Cooperation Movement: Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Refusing to cooperate

Suppose students decide not to attend a school function, not to buy items from the school shop and to hold lessons themselves in the park, because the principal punished their representatives unfairly.

Which movement resembles this?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Refusal to attend and buy resembles boycott.
  2. Holding own lessons resembles national schools.
  3. Refusing cooperation without violence.

Answer: It resembles the Non-Cooperation Movement, with boycott and constructive work.

Memory hook: Refuse and replace.

Stopping a protest

Imagine a leader who halts a peaceful campaign when part of the crowd turns violent, even though thousands are still supporting it.

Which event does this resemble, and why did the leader stop?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. It resembles Chauri Chaura.
  2. Gandhi insisted on non-violence.
  3. He would not continue if violence occurred.

Answer: It resembles Gandhi's suspension of Non-Cooperation after Chauri Chaura, because he insisted on non-violence.

Memory hook: No violence, no movement.

Tricks to remember Non-Cooperation Movement: Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • R-J-K

    Rowlatt, Jallianwala, Khilafat.

    Use it when: Causes.

  • B-C

    Boycott (negative), Constructive.

    Use it when: Programme.

  • 4 Feb 1922

    Chauri Chaura, 22 policemen.

    Use it when: Suspension.

Non-Cooperation Movement: Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Rowlatt Act · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

State two provisions of the Rowlatt Act of 1919. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Arrest without warrant or detention without trial (1 mark).
  2. Secret trial without appeal (1 mark).

Answer: The Act allowed the government to arrest persons without a warrant on suspicion and to detain them without trial, and to try cases in special courts without a jury and with no right of appeal.

Example 2: Suspension · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Describe the incident of February 1922 that made Gandhi call off the movement and state his reason. [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Chauri Chaura (1 mark).
  2. Police station burnt, 22 policemen died (1 mark).
  3. Committed to non-violence (1 mark).

Answer: On 4 February 1922 at Chauri Chaura a crowd set fire to a police station and 22 policemen died. Gandhi, who was committed to non-violence, felt that the people were not ready for civil resistance and suspended the movement.

Example 3: Jallianwala Bagh · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Describe the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy and its effect on Indians. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. What happened (2 marks).
  2. Effect (2 marks).

Answer: On 13 April 1919 at Amritsar a peaceful crowd gathered on Baisakhi day, partly to protest the arrest of local leaders. General Dyer blocked the only exit and ordered troops to fire without warning, killing hundreds. The mild response of the Hunter Committee and praise for Dyer in Britain deeply angered Indians, and Tagore gave up his knighthood.

Example 4: Programme · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain the programme of the Non-Cooperation Movement. [6]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Negative programme (3 marks).
  2. Constructive programme (3 marks).

Answer: The negative programme involved surrender of titles and honorary posts, boycott of government schools, courts and council elections, and boycott of foreign goods, especially cloth. The constructive programme included setting up national schools and colleges, settling disputes through panchayats, spinning on the charkha and wearing khadi, removing untouchability, promoting Hindu-Muslim unity and collecting the Tilak Swaraj Fund.

Example 5: Source-based: the Khilafat · 6 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

Read the extract (written for this page) and answer.

After the war, a defeated empire was treated harshly and its ruler, whom many Muslims in India respected as their religious head, was weakened. Two brothers led a campaign in India, and Gandhi urged Hindus to join it in the hope of unity.

(i) Name the movement. [1]
(ii) Name the two brothers. [1]
(iii) Why did Gandhi support it? [2]
(iv) State one effect on the Non-Cooperation Movement. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) Khilafat Movement (1 mark).
  2. (ii) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali (1 mark).
  3. (iii) For Hindu-Muslim unity against British rule (2 marks).
  4. (iv) It gave the movement Muslim support and a high point of unity (2 marks).

Answer: (i) The Khilafat Movement. (ii) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali. (iii) Gandhi saw a chance to unite Hindus and Muslims against British rule. (iv) It brought large Muslim participation into Non-Cooperation and produced a high point of Hindu-Muslim unity.

Where students lose marks in Non-Cooperation Movement: Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Dandi March as a cause

    Mixing movements.

    Wrong working

    Dandi March was a cause of Non-Cooperation.

    Right working

    It belongs to Civil Disobedience (1930).

    Do this: Link by year.

    Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

  • Mistake: Wrong year for the tragedy

    Writing 1920.

    Wrong working

    Jallianwala Bagh in 1920.

    Right working

    13 April 1919.

    Do this: 1919 for both Rowlatt and Jallianwala.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Vague Rowlatt provisions

    Writing it was a harsh law.

    Wrong working

    Rowlatt Act was a harsh law.

    Right working

    Arrest without warrant, detention without trial, secret trial, no appeal.

    Do this: Name two.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Forgetting the constructive programme

    Only boycott.

    Wrong working

    Programme: boycott only.

    Right working

    Also national schools, panchayats, khadi.

    Do this: Two lists.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

Exam tips

  • Give a date with each cause.
  • Use boycott and constructive as headings for the programme.
  • Describe Jallianwala Bagh factually and without exaggeration.

Practice questions on Non-Cooperation Movement: Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Who was General Dyer, and what did he do on 13 April 1919? [2]

    Hint

    Amritsar.

    Answer

    General Dyer was the British officer who blocked the only exit of Jallianwala Bagh at Amritsar and ordered troops to fire on the unarmed crowd without warning.

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Which two national institutions started during the movement show its constructive side? [2]

    Hint

    Charkha and national schools.

    Answer

    Jamia Millia Islamia and Kashi Vidyapith, the national schools and colleges set up as alternatives to government institutions.

  3. Q3 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Why did the Rowlatt Act arouse widespread anger? [4]

    Hint

    Provisions and opposition.

    Answer

    It was passed in spite of the opposition of all Indian members of the legislative council. It allowed arrest without warrant, detention without trial and secret trials without appeal, which Indians called no appeal, no vakil, no daleel. Gandhi called a hartal on 6 April 1919.

  4. Q4 · 5 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Discuss the impact of the Non-Cooperation Movement. [5]

    Hint

    Mass character, Congress, unity.

    Answer

    It became the first mass movement, drawing peasants, workers, students and women. The Congress became a mass organisation reaching villages. It produced Hindu-Muslim unity, removed the fear of jail and the government, and made khadi and the charkha symbols of self-reliance. Gandhi became the undisputed leader.

  5. Q5 · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    "Gandhi was right to suspend the movement after Chauri Chaura." Give arguments for and against. [6]

    Hint

    Principle versus momentum.

    Answer

    For: Gandhi believed that non-violence was the basis of the struggle, and violence would invite repression and spoil the moral claim. Against: the movement had mass support, the Khilafat unity was at its height, and suspension disappointed many leaders and left the movement without momentum. It can be argued that his principle gave the movement lasting moral strength, even if short-term momentum was lost.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.When was the Rowlatt Act passed?Show answer

    March 1919.

  2. 2.Who led the Khilafat agitation?Show answer

    Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali.

  3. 3.Where was the programme confirmed in December 1920?Show answer

    Nagpur.

  4. 4.When was the movement suspended?Show answer

    February 1922.

  5. 5.How many policemen died at Chauri Chaura?Show answer

    22.

  6. 6.Which fund was collected?Show answer

    The Tilak Swaraj Fund.

Non-Cooperation Movement: Causes, Programme, Suspension and Impact: frequently asked questions

What were the causes of Non-Cooperation?

The Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy and the Khilafat issue.

Who gave up his knighthood after Jallianwala Bagh?

Rabindranath Tagore.

What was the charkha's importance?

It symbolised self-reliance and Swadeshi.

Why was the movement suspended?

Because of violence at Chauri Chaura.