Previous Year Question

The Simon Commission was a seven-member, entirely British parliamentary commission. It was chaired by Sir John Simon, and all seven members belonged to the British Parliament. Not a single Indian was included. Therefore, option (c) is correct.

The Commission was appointed in November 1927 to review the working of the Government of India Act, 1919. It arrived in Bombay on 3 February 1928. Indians did not oppose constitutional review; they opposed the exclusion of Indians from a commission that would determine India’s constitutional future.

Its arrival was met with nationwide hartals and demonstrations, with protesters carrying black flags and raising the slogan “Simon Go Back.” Lala Lajpat Rai led the protest at Lahore on 30 October 1928. He died on 17 November 1928 after suffering injuries in the police lathi charge.

Option (a) is incorrect because Indians wanted constitutional progress; their objection was not to the review but to the absence of Indian representation.

Option (b) is an important trap. The abolition of dyarchy in the Provinces was a later recommendation of the Commission; it was not the reason for the agitation before and during its arrival. Option (d) is also incorrect because the Simon Commission did not suggest the partition of India.