The second national conference of Indian National Association was held during December 25-27, 1885, in Kolkata. This was immediately followed by the first session of Indian National Congress held in Bombay.
Indian National Association was founded in July, 1876, by Surendra Nath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose. Banerjea had been inspired by Mazzini and had as his vision a politically united India. When the maximum age of appearing at the Indian Civil Services was reduced to 19 from 21, Banerjea criticised it as a ploy to exclude Indians from the Civil Services and organised a huge public meeting against this decision on March 24, 1877, in Town Hall, Kolkata. The meeting resolved to bring whole of India on a common platform, on all policies.
In May, Banerjea embarked on a tour of north India and the next year toured Bombay and Madras Presidency. With his work for Indian National Association, he was preparing the ground for Indian National Congress.
In 1885, the maximum age limit for the Civil Services was raised on the recommendation of a public service commission.
The first national conference of Indian National Association was held in Kolkata between December 28 and 30, 1883. It was presided over by Ramtanu Lahiri. In 1886 Indian National Association merged with the Indian National Congress.
