The Simon Commission was a British parliamentary committee that was appointed in 1927 to review the constitutional arrangements in India and make recommendations for reform. The Commission was named after its chairman, Sir John Simon, and it was composed of seven members, all of whom were British.
The Commission was established in response to growing demands from Indian nationalists for greater political representation and a more democratic system of government in India. The Commission was tasked with reviewing the Government of India Act 1919, which had introduced some significant reforms to the way in which the government of India was administered, but had not granted India full self-governance.
The Simon Commission faced widespread opposition in India, as it did not include any Indian members. The Commission was seen by many Indians as an attempt by the British government to undermine the demands of Indian nationalists for self-governance and independence.
The Simon Commission's report, which was released in 1930, made a number of recommendations for further constitutional reform in India, including the introduction of a federal system of government, the establishment of a responsible government in the provinces, and the expansion of the powers of the central legislature. However, the recommendations of the Simon Commission were not implemented, and the British government continued to retain control over the administration of India until the country's independence in 1947.
The Simon Commission was a British parliamentary committee that was appointed in 1927 to review the constitutional arrangements in India and make recommendations for reform. The Commission's report, which was released in 1930, made a number of recommendations for further constitutional reform in India. Some of the key recommendations of the Simon Commission included:
Federal system of government: The Commission recommended the introduction of a federal system of government in India, in which the powers of the central government and the provinces would be clearly defined and separated.
Responsible government in the provinces: The Commission recommended the establishment of a responsible government in the provinces, with the governor-general of India retaining the power to intervene in cases of emergency or misgovernment.
Expansion of the powers of the central legislature: The Commission recommended the expansion of the powers of the central legislature, including the introduction of a system of direct elections to the legislative councils.
Extension of adult franchise: The Commission recommended the extension of the adult franchise, or the right to vote, to a larger number of Indians.
Separation of the judiciary from the executive: The Commission recommended the separation of the judiciary from the executive, in order to ensure the independence of the judiciary.
Overall, the recommendations of the Simon Commission were seen as inadequate by Indian nationalists, who continued to demand greater self-governance and independence from British rule. The recommendations of the Commission were not implemented, and the British government continued to retain control over the administration of India until the country's independence in 1947.