The people of India agitated against the arrival of Simon Commission because (UPSC Prelims 2013)

Question

The correct answer is [C] There was no Indian member in the Simon Commission. The appointment of the Indian Statutory Commission, popularly known as the Simon Commission, in November 1927, triggered an unprecedented wave of protests across British India.

Exclusion of Indians (Statement C is Correct): The primary reason for the agitation was the \"All-White\" composition of the commission. Although it was tasked with deciding the future of India\'s constitutional reforms and whether India was fit for further self-rule, all seven members were British Members of Parliament. Indians viewed this as a deliberate insult to their self-respect and a violation of the principle of self-determination.
Context of the Act of 1919 (Statement A is Incorrect): Indians actually wanted a review and further expansion of reforms. The Government of India Act 1919 had a provision that a commission would be appointed ten years later to study its working. However, the British government appointed it two years early (in 1927) to ensure the Conservative Party could handle the matter before the upcoming British elections.
Recommendations on Dyarchy (Statement B is Incorrect): While the Simon Commission did eventually recommend the abolition of Dyarchy and the extension of responsible government in the provinces, this was a result of their report published in 1930. The agitation began much earlier, in 1928, specifically because of the commission\'s composition.
Partition Suggestion (Statement D is Incorrect): The Simon Commission did not suggest the partition of India. The idea of partition emerged much later in the 1940s through the Pakistan Resolution and subsequent political developments.

The arrival of the commission in 1928 was met with black flags and the famous slogan \"Simon Go Back.\" It was during a protest against this commission in Lahore that the senior leader Lala Lajpat Rai was severely injured in a lathi charge, leading to his eventual death.

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

There was no Indian member in the Simon Commission The correct answer is [C] There was no Indian member in the Simon Commission. The appointment of the Indian Statutory Commission, popularly known as the Simon Commission, in November 1927, triggered an unprecedented wave of protests across British India.

Exclusion of Indians (Statement C is Correct): The primary reason for the agitation was the \"All-White\" composition of the commission. Although it was tasked with deciding the future of India\'s constitutional reforms and whether India was fit for further self-rule, all seven members were British Members of Parliament. Indians viewed this as a deliberate insult to their self-respect and a violation of the principle of self-determination.
Context of the Act of 1919 (Statement A is Incorrect): Indians actually wanted a review and further expansion of reforms. The Government of India Act 1919 had a provision that a commission would be appointed ten years later to study its working. However, the British government appointed it two years early (in 1927) to ensure the Conservative Party could handle the matter before the upcoming British elections.
Recommendations on Dyarchy (Statement B is Incorrect): While the Simon Commission did eventually recommend the abolition of Dyarchy and the extension of responsible government in the provinces, this was a result of their report published in 1930. The agitation began much earlier, in 1928, specifically because of the commission\'s composition.
Partition Suggestion (Statement D is Incorrect): The Simon Commission did not suggest the partition of India. The idea of partition emerged much later in the 1940s through the Pakistan Resolution and subsequent political developments.

The arrival of the commission in 1928 was met with black flags and the famous slogan \"Simon Go Back.\" It was during a protest against this commission in Lahore that the senior leader Lala Lajpat Rai was severely injured in a lathi charge, leading to his eventual death.

Current Affairs

Daily MCQs

Monthly MCQs

Topic Wise CA MCQs

CA MCQs in Other Languages

GK MCQs Section

SSC/RRB/States Level MCQs