Understanding Constitutional Reforms for British India

The question asks to identify the specific group of seven Members of Parliament from the United Kingdom that was formed to propose constitutional changes for British India. Several commissions were sent to India during the British Raj, each with a different purpose. We need to look at the options and determine which one matches the description of a seven-member parliamentary group focused on constitutional reforms.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine each option provided:

• Sargent Commission: This commission, established in 1944, dealt with post-war educational development in India. Its recommendations were related to education reform, not primarily constitutional reform.
• Fraser Commission: This commission, also known as the Police Commission, was appointed in 1902 by Lord Curzon. Its purpose was to inquire into the administration of the police force in British India and suggest reforms for it. This was not related to constitutional structure.
• Hunter Commission: There are two significant Hunter Commissions in Indian history. One was the Indian Education Commission of 1882, focused on education. The other was the Disorders Inquiry Committee (often called the Hunter Commission) of 1919, formed to investigate the disturbances in Bombay, Delhi, and Punjab, particularly the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Neither of these was a group of seven British MPs tasked with overall constitutional reforms.
• Simon Commission: Officially the Indian Statutory Commission, this group was appointed in November 1927 (though it arrived in India in 1928). It consisted of seven Members of the British Parliament and was chaired by Sir John Simon. Its specific mandate was to review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and to propose further constitutional reforms for British India. This description perfectly matches the details given in the question.

The Role of the Simon Commission in British India

The Simon Commission is historically significant because it was a crucial step in the constitutional history of British India. Key points about the commission include:

• Composition: It comprised seven members, all from the British Parliament.
• Purpose: To study the constitutional system of India established by the Government of India Act 1919 and recommend changes.
• Controversy: The commission faced widespread protests in India because it did not include any Indian members, leading to the slogan "Simon Go Back".

Based on the analysis, the group of seven Members of Parliament constituted to suggest constitutional reforms for British India was the Simon Commission.

The table above clearly shows that the Simon Commission is the only one among the options that fits the description of a seven-member parliamentary group focused on constitutional reforms for British India.

Revision Table: Key Commissions in British India

Additional Information: The Simon Commission and Indian Response

The Simon Commission's exclusion of Indian members was seen as a deliberate insult by Indian leaders, including the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. This led to widespread boycotts and protests across India upon its arrival in 1928. While the commission submitted its report in 1930, its recommendations were largely rejected by Indian political factions. However, the report and the subsequent discussions, including the Round Table Conferences, significantly influenced the Government of India Act 1935, which introduced major constitutional changes.

The primary goal of the Simon Commission was to determine the extent to which India was ready for further constitutional advancement and to recommend the next steps towards responsible government. Their report suggested abolishing diarchy (dual government) in the provinces and establishing provincial autonomy, among other recommendations.