Who was the first woman to become President of the Indian National Congress (INC)?

Introduction / Context:
The Indian National Congress (INC) played a central role in India’s freedom struggle and later in national politics. Several historic figures served as its presidents. Exam questions often ask about “firsts”, such as the first woman president, the first Indian woman president or the first foreign-born president. This question specifically asks for the first woman ever to become INC President, regardless of nationality.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We need the first woman President of the Indian National Congress.
• The question does not restrict the answer to Indian women only.
• Options include Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Indira Gandhi and “None of the above”.
• Exactly one of these is historically correct as the first woman to hold the office.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, Annie Besant, of Irish origin and associated with the Theosophical Society, became the first woman President of the INC in 1917 at the Calcutta session. Later, in 1925, Sarojini Naidu became the first Indian woman President. Therefore, when the question simply says “first woman President” of the INC, the correct answer is Annie Besant. The approach is to carefully distinguish between “first woman” and “first Indian woman”.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Annie Besant was elected INC President in 1917, making her the first woman in that role. Step 2: Remember that Sarojini Naidu became President later, in 1925, and is noted as the first Indian woman President. Step 3: Observe that the question does not specify “Indian woman”, only “woman”. Step 4: Compare each option with this timeline and note that only Annie Besant fits the “first ever woman” description. Step 5: Select Annie Besant as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple verification trick is to memorise both key facts together: 1917 → Annie Besant (first woman INC President); 1925 → Sarojini Naidu (first Indian woman INC President). Whenever a question uses the phrase “first woman” without further qualification, it refers to Annie Besant. When it says “first Indian woman”, it points to Sarojini Naidu. Recalling this pair prevents confusion in multiple-choice settings.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sarojini Naidu: She was the first Indian woman President, but not the first woman overall.
Vijayalakshmi Pandit: A prominent diplomat and politician, but she did not hold the title of first woman INC President.
Indira Gandhi: First woman Prime Minister of India, not the first woman INC President.
None of the above: Incorrect because Annie Besant, listed among the options, is the historically correct answer.

Common Pitfalls:
The most common mistake is to jump directly to Sarojini Naidu because many textbooks highlight her as a pioneering Indian woman leader. Another pitfall is not noticing the missing word “Indian” in the question and assuming it is implied. Exams often exploit this subtle wording difference. Always read “first” questions carefully and recall both Annie Besant (foreign-born) and Sarojini Naidu (Indian) in their correct roles.

Final Answer:
The first woman to become President of the Indian National Congress was Annie Besant.