Final answer:
The Indian National Congress, formed in 1885, played a pivotal role in India's quest for independence. It represented the efforts of educated Indians to challenge British rule through political organization and peaceful protest. This was an essential step for India's subsequent self-rule and autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 by a group of educated Indians with the intention to establish a political pathway toward independence from British rule. It was a significant step by nationalist leaders who believed that to achieve freedom from British influence, a structured political party was necessary. Over time, the Congress party would become synonymous with the Indian independence movement, advocating for peaceful protests and gradual self-rule, while challenging British-imposed barriers to industrialization and unfair taxation.
British-educated Indian reformers saw the Congress party as a medium to express their discontent with British policies and to seek administrative roles in governing their own country. After the rebellion of 1857, known as the Sepoy Mutiny, India was directly ruled by Britain, but the foundation of the Indian National Congress marked the inception of an organized resistance that would eventually culminate in India's independence.
Self-rule and autonomy gradually became more tangible with the Government of India Act in 1935, which allowed Indians to have a larger say in the provincial government. Nevertheless, the division of power was still skewed, and the British Raj continued to maintain control over significant aspects of governance until the eventual succesful drive for independence.