The Simon Commission was established under the leadership of Sir John Simon to investigate the functioning of India's constitutional system and make recommendations for changes. It was officially known as the 'Indian Statutory Commission,' and it was made up of four Conservative, two Labour, and one Liberal member of the British Parliament. In this article, we will discuss the Recommendations of Simon Commission which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Simon Commission - Background

• The 1919 Act provided for the appointment of a Commission to review the provisions of the Act in light of their operation and to extend, modify, or restrict the degree of responsibility of the Indian government.
• According to the Act's provisions, the Commission was to be appointed in 1929.
• However, for a variety of political reasons, it was established in November 1927, with Sir John Simon as Chairman.
• The Simon Commission was made up entirely of white people. This Commission's members were all British. It was chastised because there was no Indian representation on the Commission.
• The purpose of this Commission was to make recommendations to the British government on constitutional reforms in British India.

Recommendations of Simon Commission

• Provincial Dyarchy should be abolished, and ministers' responsibilities to provincial legislatures should be expanded.
• The Governor has special powers for the protection of minorities and the safeguarding of provinces.
• The representation of provinces and other areas in the Federal Assembly is based on population (at the Centre).
• Burma should be granted Dominion Status and be given its own Constitution.
• The representation of the Council of State should not be chosen through direct election, but rather through indirect election through the Provincial Council, which is more or less the same as the modern day election procedure known as Proportional Representation.
• It advocated for a Federation-style structure at the centre, with a 'Council of Greater India' representing the interests of both British India and the princely states.
• It proposed that seats be reserved for the poorest classes.
• To maintain communal hatred, rift, and internet security, the Governor was given discretionary powers.
• It was proposed to increase the number of Legislative Council members.
• Local legislatures and rights to be represented at the centre should be established in the northwestern frontier provinces and in Balochistan.
• Sindh will be split from Bombay, and Burma will be split from India.
• The Indian army needs to be Indianized.
• The Commission was also recommended to be incorporated into the Government of India Act of 1935 as part of the reforms.
• To have complete control over the High Court, the Government of India should have complete control over it.

Simon Commission - Aftermath

• Aside from the numerous recommendations, they quickly realised that the educated sector of India was not completely accepting of the changes, so they proposed a few changes for the betterment of Indians as well.
• The Commission's recommendations resulted in the Government of India Act 1935, which established a "responsible" government at the provincial level but not at the national level—that is, a government accountable to the Indian community rather than London.
• As a result, in 1937, Congress governments won the first provincial elections in a number of provinces.

• In May 1930, the commission released its two-volume report. Here are some of the report's key features:
  • It advocated for the abolition of dyarchy.
  • Provincial governments are being established with a representative government.
  • Separate communal electorates should be considered only until tensions between Hindus and Muslims have subsided.

Conclusion

The Commission's popular resentment reflected the popular belief that the future constitution of India should be drafted by the people themselves. Congress called an All Parties Conference in February 1928, and on May 19, 1928, Motilal Nehru appointed a Constitution Drafting Committee.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What was the primary purpose of the Simon Commission?

A) To introduce reforms in agriculture
B) To assess the working of the Government of India Act 1919
C) To grant India independence
D) To establish separate electorates

2. Why did Indians oppose the Simon Commission?

A) It introduced unfair tax laws
B) It did not include any Indian members
C) It supported British rule
D) It did not address education reforms

3. What did the Simon Commission recommend for the provinces in India?

A) Introduction of dyarchy
B) Abolition of dyarchy
C) Complete independence
D) Creation of new provinces

4. Which Indian document was drafted in response to the Simon Commission?

A) Lucknow Pact
B) Nehru Report
C) Government of India Act 1935
D) Poona Pact

5. Which of the following was NOT a recommendation of the Simon Commission?

A) Abolition of dyarchy
B) Continuation of separate electorates
C) Granting dominion status to India
D) Federal structure in India

GS Mains Questions and Answers

Q1: Discuss the key recommendations of the Simon Commission and the reasons for its rejection by Indian political leaders.

Answer: The Simon Commission, appointed by the British government in 1927, made several key recommendations, including the abolition of dyarchy in the provinces, the continuation of separate electorates, and the creation of a federal structure in India. However, it did not propose granting dominion status to India, which was a major demand of Indian leaders.

Indian political leaders across the spectrum rejected the Simon Commission because it did not include any Indian members, and the recommendations fell short of their aspirations for greater self-governance. The commission was seen as a symbol of continued British domination, leading to widespread protests and boycotts. The rejection of the Simon Commission intensified the demand for complete independence, rather than gradual constitutional reforms.

Q2: Analyze the impact of the Simon Commission on the Indian independence movement.

Answer: The Simon Commission played a significant role in galvanizing the Indian independence movement. Its exclusion of Indian members and failure to address India's demands for dominion status united various political factions in opposition. The widespread protests against the commission, led by prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, increased the momentum of the independence movement.

In response to the commission, the Indian National Congress prepared the Nehru Report, which outlined a vision for self-governance and dominion status. The opposition to the Simon Commission also brought together moderates and radicals within the Congress, creating a stronger and more unified push for independence. The Simon Commission, thus, indirectly contributed to the growing demand for complete independence from British rule.

Q3: Evaluate the long-term significance of the Simon Commission’s recommendations on the constitutional development of India.

Answer: While the Simon Commission was widely opposed and its recommendations were rejected by Indian political leaders, its proposals had a long-term impact on the constitutional development of India. The commission's suggestion to abolish dyarchy in the provinces was eventually incorporated into the Government of India Act 1935, which granted greater autonomy to provincial governments.

The commission’s recommendation of a federal structure also influenced later constitutional developments. However, the continuation of separate electorates, which was another recommendation of the commission, remained a point of contention. Overall, the Simon Commission’s recommendations contributed to shaping the discourse on constitutional reforms in India, even though they fell short of Indian aspirations at the time.

Previous Year Questions on Simon Commission

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019:

Question: Which of the following was a key recommendation of the Simon Commission?

A) Granting India dominion status
B) Abolition of dyarchy
C) Formation of linguistic states
D) Introduction of universal suffrage

Answer: B

Explanation: The Simon Commission recommended the abolition of dyarchy in the provinces, which was implemented in the Government of India Act 1935.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 1):

Question: "The Simon Commission marked a turning point in the Indian freedom struggle." Discuss the reasons for its opposition and its impact on the Indian political landscape.

Answer: The Simon Commission marked a significant turning point in the Indian freedom struggle due to its exclusion of Indian members and its failure to address the demands for dominion status. The commission's formation was seen as a blatant disregard for Indian political aspirations, leading to widespread protests and boycotts. The unity among political leaders in opposing the commission helped strengthen the Indian independence movement and paved the way for more direct demands for complete independence.

The opposition to the Simon Commission also led to the drafting of the Nehru Report, which proposed constitutional reforms that reflected Indian aspirations for self-governance. While the Simon Commission failed to achieve its intended objectives, it played a crucial role in intensifying the struggle for independence and highlighting the growing demand for a constitution that reflected the will of the Indian people.