In November 1919, Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Liberation Movement, proposed for the first time "non-cooperation" with the British government. On July 28, 1920, Gandhi announced that he would start a non-cooperative movement on August 1, emphasizing the principle of non-violence, and drafting its contents: returning the titles and medals awarded by the British King, and resigning from public office in local institutions; Not participating in all gatherings of the colonial government; Boycott British colonial education, withdraw from British official schools, and run their own schools: Boycott British courts and set up their own arbitration institutions; refusing to join the army and serve in Mesopotamia; boycotted parliamentary elections; boycotted foreign goods, etc. The Congress Party held a special meeting in Calcutta to formally approve Gandhi's non-cooperative movement platform and define a struggle strategy with tax resistance as the final stage. In December of the same year, at the annual meeting of the Congress Party in Nagpur, a new party constitution drafted by Gandhi was adopted, stipulating that the goal of the struggle was to achieve autonomy by all legal and peaceful means (i.e.,"Swaraji"). Gandhi thus gained the leadership of the Congress Party., and promoted the non-cooperative movement to become a nationwide anti-British movement, transforming from the past of disobedience to individual decrees into a comprehensive non-violent non-cooperative movement.

Gandhi strictly limited his movement to the principles of non-violence, focusing on promoting indigenous textiles and weaving, abolishing untouchability, and promoting unity between Hindus and Muslims. Gandhi gave lectures and published many articles. The Congress Party reorganized, established a Central Executive Committee, established grassroots organizations in various places, increased the number of party members to 10 million, and sent people to rural areas to promote the platform of the non-cooperation movement. In 1921, a non-cooperation movement was launched in all India. In early January, 3,000 university students in Calcutta went on strike; a large number of students withdrew from British schools and founded national schools and universities; many lawyers ceased to work; sectarian fighting ceased and mutual cooperation was established; the textile movement was launched in the whole country; and meetings for burning English cloth were held. On November 17, the Crown Prince of Wales visited India, but was boycotted in Mumbai and violent incidents broke out. On the 19th, Gandhi went on a hunger strike to oppose the violence and calm it down. Most of the Congress Party leaders were arrested at this time. In December, the National Congress of the Communist Party of China granted Gandhi the power of commander-in-chief of the movement.

On February 5, 1922, the "Choricola Incident" occurred, in which the masses burned to death police officers who came to suppress it. The struggle broke through the limits of non-violence. On February 11, under the chairmanship of Gandhi, the Congress Party held an emergency meeting in Badoli and decided to end the non-cooperative movement indefinitely. The first non-cooperative movement ended.