<P> The Purna Swaraj declaration, or Declaration of the Independence of India, was promulgated by the Indian National Congress on 19 December 1929, resolving the Congress and Indian nationalists to fight for Purna Swaraj, or complete self - rule independent of the British Empire (literally in Sanskrit, purna, "complete, "self," raj, "rule," thus "complete self - rule"). </P> <P> The flag of India had been hoisted by Gandhi on 31 December 1929, in Lahore, modern - day Pakistan . The Congress asked the people of India to observe 26 January as Independence Day . The flag of India was hoisted publicly across India by Congress volunteers, nationalists and the public . </P>

The pledge for poorna swaraj was taken at the congress session of