Gandhian Era

Step 1: Recall Gandhiji’s movements.
Gandhiji returned to India in 1915. Initially, he was involved in local struggles such as Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), and Ahmedabad (1918). But these were local satyagrahas, not mass national movements.
Step 2: First mass movement.
The first nationwide movement led by Gandhi was the Non-cooperation Movement (1920–22). It urged Indians to boycott British institutions like schools, colleges, law courts, legislatures, and to resign from government services.
Step 3: Elimination.
- (A) Swadeshi movement: Belonged to the Bengal partition era (1905–08), before Gandhi’s leadership.
- (B) Non-cooperation movement: Correct, Gandhi’s first mass movement.
- (C) Quit India movement: Started later in 1942.
- (D) Salt movement: Part of Civil Disobedience in 1930, not the first.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Thus, the first mass movement under Gandhi was the Non-cooperation Movement in 1920.