In which year Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded ‘Servants of India Society’?

The correct answer is D) 1905. Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the Servants of India Society in Pune on 12 June 1905. The society trained members who took a vow to devote their lives to public service for a modest allowance, and it became the nursery of moderate nationalist leadership.

Why the other options fail:

• 1902 is the year Gokhale entered the Imperial Legislative Council, so it is a common mix-up with a different milestone in his career, not the founding of the Society.
• 1903 and 1904 are not the founding year. The Society was constituted in 1905, so these are simply wrong dates.

Core concept: the Moderate phase of the Indian National Congress, which relied on constitutional methods, petitions and legislative participation. For Mains, the Society is useful for answers on the Moderates versus Extremists debate and on how institutions trained leaders. Gokhale's mentorship of Gandhi, who was linked to the Society's circle, is a frequently asked connection.

Trap: candidates often pick 1902 or 1904 because these dates sit close to Gokhale's political career. Memorise the founding year separately from the dates of his council membership and other roles.