Indian Red Cross Society was established in year:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (1):
The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) was officially established and incorporated in the year **1920**. This formal establishment was cemented by the Indian Red Cross Society Act, 1920, which was passed by the Indian Legislative Council and became Parliament Act XV of 1920. The need for an independent national humanitarian body became clear during and immediately following the First World War, as relief efforts were initially managed by a joint committee of the British Red Cross and the St. John Ambulance Association. Sir Claude Hill was instrumental in introducing the bill that constituted the IRCS as an autonomous organization, enabling it to fully align with the global principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The incorrect option is (2):
The year 1922 is incorrect because the IRCS had already been officially constituted and functioning for two years by then. The society's foundation is a legislative fact, clearly tied to the passage of the IRCS Act in March 1920. While the society continued to expand its humanitarian programs and organizational structure in the years following its inception, 1922 represents a period of growth rather than its foundational year. Therefore, to select 1922 as the establishment year would be historically inaccurate regarding the society's legal and initial formation date.

The incorrect option is (3):
Choosing 1924 as the establishment year is incorrect, as this date significantly post-dates the IRCS's formal founding. By 1924, the Indian Red Cross Society was already well-rooted and actively pursuing its core objectives, such as disaster relief and promoting public health initiatives. The entire legal framework and the appointment of the first governing body, with Sir Malcolm Hailey as Chairman, were completed in the summer of 1920. The year 1924 is simply too late in the timeline of the society's institutional history.

The incorrect option is (4):
The year 1918 is incorrect because it precedes the formal establishment of the IRCS. In 1918, India's relief work was still largely an appendage of the British Red Cross through the Joint War Committee. Although discussions and the recognition of the need for an independent society were ongoing, the actual legislative process did not begin until 1920 with the introduction of the bill in the Indian Legislative Council. Therefore, 1918 is a pre-formation year, marking the time just before the independent Indian Red Cross Society was legally conceived and created.