Chief characteristics of Indian National Movement: 

1. Long period: 

Indian National Movement lasted for a long time. It had started in the mid of 18th century but the actual struggle for independence started in 1857, and with the foundation of Indian National Congress in 1885, the movement underwent various forms and shapes and it ended on 15th August 1947.

2. A revolutionary but peaceful movement: 

During Indian national movement, the extremists used revolutionary means. Besides these means, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, peaceful means like truth and non – violence and satyagraha civil disobedience etc. were also adopted. 

3. Constitutional development: 

In India, work of constitutional development also went on along with national movement. In the years 1861, 1892, 1909, 1919, and 1935, under Indian Council Act and the India Government Acts, responsible government was established. At last, in 1947, under Indian Independence Act, Indians got freedom from British rule. 

4. Mass Public movement: 

Indian National Movement was started by the Indian intellectuals. But later, became it a mass movement. Even the peasants and the labourers took active part in it. In this way, the Indian National Movement became a mass movement. 

5. Religious movement: 

The religious reform movements also played important role in Indian national movement. Swami Dayanand, through Arya Samaj’, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, through ‘Brahmo Samaj’, Swami Vivekananda, through Ramakrishna Mission, and Annie Besant, through the Theosophical Society, inspired the renaissance of the people towards religion and national movement of India. They tried to abolish social evils. 

6. Social and economic movement: 

The form of Indian national movement was not merely political. The national movement included social and economic movement also. Mahatma Gandhi started on a campaign against social evils and economic weaknesses. He placed social programme and economic social programme in parallel to the political programme. Removal of economic and social evils were major objectives of Indian National Movement. 

7. Global influence of Indian National Movement: 

The events and incidents of Indian National Movement had a global effect. Influenced by the freedom struggle in India, countries like Burma, Indonesia and African countries also started struggle for their independence. 

8. National form of the movement: 

In Indian national movement, people from all religions, women, students, peasants and labourers participated actively. All groups – social, religious and political, joined hands to oppose the British rule. 

Phases of National Movement: 

1. The first phase: 

The first phase of the movement started in the middle of the 19th century. In this phase, peaceful and co-operative means were adopted to attain freedom. This movement continued up to 1905 and is called the liberal phase of the Indian National Movement. 

2. The second phase: 

This phase of the national movement started from 1906. It was called the period, of the extremists. There were some such incidents in the liberal period which made the Indians extremely resentful against the British rulers and they lost faith in their pattern of justice. They were forced to believe that swaraj cannot be attained by request, but by struggle. The way to get freedom through violent struggle is known as “Aggressive Nationalism or extremist movement”. 

3. The third phase: 

This phase started after 1922. This phase is also known as the united phase of the revolutionaries and the Gandhian means of movement. Revolutionary activities took place in this phase along with Gandhian activities.