Previous Year Question

On 31 October 1929, the then Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, issued an important declaration known as the Irwin Declaration or Deepavali Declaration.

In this declaration, Irwin clarified that the natural outcome of India's constitutional progress was ultimately the attainment of Dominion Status.

Dominion Status meant substantial internal self-government within the British Empire. At that time, Dominions such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand enjoyed extensive powers of self-government.

Irwin also announced that after the Simon Commission submitted its report, a Round Table Conference would be convened to discuss India's future constitutional arrangement with representatives of British India and the Princely States.

However, the declaration provided no definite timetable for granting Dominion Status to India. Indian leaders therefore demanded a more concrete commitment.

Subsequently, in November 1929, prominent Indian leaders issued the Delhi Manifesto, demanding that the proposed Round Table Conference should not decide whether Dominion Status was to be granted, but should work out the constitutional arrangements for implementing it.

Soon afterwards, at the Lahore Congress Session of December 1929, the Congress declared Purna Swaraj as its objective.

Therefore, the Deepavali Declaration of 1929 was related to Dominion Status.