The Indian Statutory Commission, also known as the Simon Commission, was a panel of seven Members of Parliament led by Sir John Simon. The Motilal Nehru Report 1928 was a report compiled by a committee led by Pt. Motilal Nehru. The Simon Commission was formed to investigate the functioning of India's constitutional system and make recommendations for changes. Whereas the Nehru Report was a strong response given by the leadership of the Indian National Congress to the British Government's inability to make a constitution unfit. In this article, we will discuss the Simon Commission and Nehru Report which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Simon Commission (1927)

The Indian Statutory Commission, also known as the Simon Commission, was a panel of seven Members of Parliament led by Sir John Simon. In 1928, the commission arrived in British India to investigate constitutional reform in Britain's largest and most important possession. One of its members was future Labour Party leader Clement Attlee, who became committed to India's self-government.

Background

• The Simon Commission was the Indian Statutory Commission, which was led by Sir John Simon and comprised seven Members of Parliament.
• In 1928, the commission arrived in British India to investigate constitutional reform in Britain's largest and most important possession.
• After ten years, the Government of India Act of 1919 provided for the appointment of a commission to study the progress of the governance scheme and recommend new steps.
• National leaders and freedom fighters were outraged that the British administration had failed to include even one Indian on the Commission.

Objective

• The British government established a commission to investigate the Government of India Act of 1919.
• The commission's mission was to investigate the operation of the act and make recommendations for further reforms to the administrative system.
• Its main goal was to spread communal feelings in order to tear the country's social fabric apart.
• It wished to postpone the process of granting Indians governance powers.
• They were attempting to spread and support the regional movement, which had the potential to annihilate the country's national movements.

Criticism

• The Commission's all-European composition was interpreted as an insult to Indian nationalism.
• As a result, the Indian National Congress has decided to boycott the Commission at all stages and in any form.
• The seven members of the Commission were all Englishmen who were members of the British Parliament.
• The British government argued that because the committee had to report its findings to the British Parliament, appointing only British citizens was justified.
• The presence of two Indian members of the British Parliament, Lord Sinha and Mr. Saklatwala, undermined this argument.
• The British government declared that no Indian could be appointed to the Constitutional Development Commission because there was no unanimity among Indians on the issue.

Outcome

• The Commission's report was published in 1930. Before the publication, the government assured that Indian opinion would be taken into account in the future, and that the natural outcome of constitutional reforms would be dominion status for India.
• It advocated the abolition of diarchy and the establishment of representative governments in the provinces.
• It also advocated for the retention of separate communal electorates until communal tensions had subsided.
• The Simon Commission resulted in the Government of India Act of 1935, which served as the foundation for many aspects of the current Indian Constitution.
• The first provincial elections were held in 1937, and Congress governments were formed in almost all of the provinces.
• The arrival of the Commission fueled the Indian independence movement by galvanizing leaders and the masses.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Simon Commission (1927).

Nehru Report (1928)

The Nehru Report of 15 August 1928 (approved on 28 August) was a memorandum requesting a new dominion status and a federal government structure for India's constitution. It also proposed Joint Electorates with seats reserved for minorities in legislatures. It was drafted by an All Parties Conference committee chaired by Motilal Nehru, with his son Jawaharlal Nehru serving as secretary.

Background

• When the Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, Indians, particularly the Congress Party, were outraged because there was not a single Indian on the Commission.
• So, Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, challenged Indian leaders to draft a constitution for India, implying that Indians were incapable of finding a common path and drafting a constitution.
• The political leaders accepted the challenge, and an All Party Conference was called, and a committee was formed to draft a constitution.
• Motilal Nehru was the chairman of this committee, and Jawaharlal Nehru was the secretary. Ali Imam, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Mangal Singh, M S Aney, Subhas Chandra Bose, Shuaib Qureshi, and G R Pradhan were also members.
• The committee's draft constitution was known as the Nehru Committee Report or Nehru Report. On August 28, 1928, the report was presented at the Lucknow session of the all-party conference.
• This was the first major attempt by Indians to draft their own constitution.

Main Recommendations

• Dominion status should be granted to India, which should have a Parliamentary form of government and a bi-cameral legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
• The Senate will elect 200 members for a seven-year term, while the House of Representatives will elect 500 members for a five-year term.
• The Governor-General will make decisions based on the Executive Council's recommendations. It will be held jointly responsible to the legislature.
• A federal system of government should be established in India, with the Centre retaining residuary powers.
• Because a separate electorate for minorities incites communal feelings, it should be abolished and a joint electorate established.
• The Punjabi and Bengali communities will not have any reserved seats. Muslim seats, on the other hand, may be reserved in provinces with a Muslim population of at least 10%.
• The judiciary and the executive must be kept separate.
• Muslims should account for one-quarter of the population at the Center.
• Sind, if it can demonstrate financial independence, should be separated from Bombay.

Outcome

• The Nehru report enraged Bengal's Muslim political circles, who saw it as a threat to Hindu dominance.
• Separate electorates had become the sine qua non of Muslim politics in Bengal, and its sudden rejection was viewed as a betrayal of the Muslim cause by Hindus.
• They claimed that because of their provincial majority, they should be granted a legislative majority, and that separate electorates should be maintained to protect Hindus from economic and educational exploitation.
• Hindus saw no logic in these demands and instead claimed that, despite being a minority in the population, they fully deserved their current majority in the house based on past service and current capacity.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Nehru Report (1928).

Conclusion

The British were supposed to consider and announce another round of constitutional reforms in 1929–30. In preparation, it announced the formation of the 'Simon Commission.' The commission was made up entirely of white men, which was an insult to Indians. The Congress resolved to boycott the commission at its annual session in Madras in 1927. The decision was also supported by the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha. A series of meetings were held, and the consensus was to work on developing an alternative proposal. The Motilal Nehru Report was the result of the majority of the parties agreeing to challenge the colonial attitude toward India. However, on the issue of communal representation, the All-Parties Meeting in Calcutta in December 1928 refused to accept it.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What was the primary reason for the formation of the Simon Commission?

A) To review the economic situation in India
B) To reform the Government of India Act, 1919
C) To enforce new taxes
D) To promote local industries

2. Why was the Nehru Report significant?

A) It proposed a boycott of British goods
B) It laid out a framework for Indian self-governance
C) It demanded independence immediately
D) It criticized British policies on education

3. When was the Simon Commission established?

A) 1919
B) 1920
C) 1927
D) 1930

4. Who led the drafting of the Nehru Report?

A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Motilal Nehru
D) Sardar Patel

5. What was the British reaction to the Nehru Report?

A) Complete acceptance
B) Partial acceptance
C) Rejection
D) Proposal for further amendments

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Evaluate the impact of the Simon Commission on the Indian freedom struggle and how it influenced subsequent events in India’s quest for independence.

Answer: The Simon Commission, lacking Indian representation, was seen as a disregard for Indian aspirations, sparking widespread protests and boycotts. The "Simon Go Back" movement unified Indians against British policies, leading to a stronger call for self-governance. The response highlighted India’s readiness for political self-determination and set the stage for the 1929 Purna Swaraj resolution, marking a shift from dominion status demands to complete independence.

Q2: Discuss the importance of the Nehru Report as India’s first attempt to draft a constitution. How did it lay the groundwork for future constitutional developments?

Answer: The Nehru Report represented India's first comprehensive blueprint for self-rule, advocating a dominion status, federal structure, and joint electorates. Drafted under Motilal Nehru's chairmanship, it emphasized India’s capacity for self-governance. Though rejected by the British, it fostered unity among leaders and set foundational principles that later influenced India’s independence constitution. The report marked a move towards secularism and inclusivity, reflecting emerging nationalist aspirations.

Q3: Analyze the failure of the Simon Commission to include Indian representation and its effect on India’s push for independence.

Answer: Exclusion of Indian representatives in the Simon Commission displayed Britain’s reluctance to acknowledge Indian agency, fueling resentment. This exclusion unified leaders across political spectrums, from moderates to extremists, sparking nationwide protests. As a catalyst for the Nehru Report and subsequent Purna Swaraj resolution, the Commission’s rejection solidified Indian demands for independence, illustrating how exclusionary policies backfired and bolstered the independence movement.

Previous Year Questions on Simon Commission and Nehru Report

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2018:

Question: Why did the Simon Commission face opposition in India?

A) Its recommendations imposed taxes
B) It aimed to delay independence
C) It had no Indian members
D) It promoted British dominance in local industries

Answer: (C)

Explanation: The absence of Indian members on the Simon Commission led to its rejection and widespread protests, as it represented British disregard for Indian self-governance aspirations.