Previous Year Question
With reference to Simon Commission’s recommendations, which one of the following statements is correct?
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
(a) is correct.
The Government of India Act, 1919 introduced dyarchy in the provinces.
Under this arrangement, provincial subjects were divided into two categories:
Reserved subjects: Departments such as police, justice, land revenue and irrigation remained under the Governor and his Executive Council.
Transferred subjects: Departments such as education, public health, local self-government and agriculture were entrusted to Indian ministers.
The Indian ministers were responsible to the legislature, but they had no control over the reserved departments. This divided responsibility and produced an impractical administrative arrangement.
The Simon Commission, appointed in 1927, reviewed the system and recommended the abolition of provincial dyarchy and its replacement with responsible government in the provinces.
Under the proposed arrangement, provincial departments were to be administered by ministers responsible to the legislature, although special and emergency powers were to remain with the Governors.
The Simon Commission submitted its report in 1930. Its provincial recommendation was subsequently reflected in the Government of India Act, 1935, which abolished dyarchy in the provinces and introduced provincial autonomy.
(b) is incorrect. The Commission did not recommend an inter-provincial council placed under the Home Department. It supported movement towards a future federal structure, but the institution and departmental control described in this option are incorrect.
(c) is incorrect. The Commission did not recommend the abolition of the bicameral legislature at the Centre. Instead of granting immediate complete responsible government at the Centre, it envisaged a strong central administration and gradual federal development.
(d) is incorrect. The Commission did not recommend creating an Indian Police Service under which British recruits would receive higher pay and allowances than Indian recruits.
Important fact: All seven members of the Simon Commission were British; it had no Indian member. Consequently, it was boycotted in India and greeted with the slogan “Simon Go Back.”