Question

Why was the Simon commission sent to India in 1928?
(A) To look into the functioning of Indian constitutional system and suggest reforms.
(B) To try Indian revolutionary leaders.
(C) To frame a new constitution for India.
(D) To persuade Gandhiji to attend the Round Table Conference.

Answer 1

Hint: The Indian Statutory Commission also known as the Simon commission, is a group of seven MPs chaired by Sir John Simon (later first Viscount Simon). The commission came to British India in $1928$ to investigate constitutional reforms in Britain’s largest and most important possession.

Complete answer:
During the introduction of the Montagu- Chelmsford Reforms in $1919$, the British government declared that within ten years a commission would be sent to India to examine the impact and measures of constitutional reforms to propose further reforms for India.
Boycotting of Simon commission
1. The Indian were furious about their exclusion from the commission.
2. The congress party decided to boycott the commission when it met in Madras in $1927$.
3. MA Jinnah’s Muslim league also boycotted them. Several members, led by Mohamed Shafi, supported the government.
4. People chanted “Simon Go back” slogan.
5. The southern justice party has decided to side with the government on this issue.

Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.

Note:
Impact of Simon commission: the commission’s report was published in $1930$. prior to publication, the government provided assurance that India’s opinion would be considered from now on and that the natural outcome of constitutional reform would be the status of India. It recommended abolishing the diarchy and establishing a representative government in the provinces.