Which of the following is/are true?

1) Simon Commission which was appointed in 1927, submitted its report in 1930, which suggested abolition of dyarchy.

2) The Poona Pact was a reaction to the Simon Commission and its Report.

a. Only 1

b. Only 2

c. Both 1 and 2

d. None of the above

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

In November 1927, itself (i.e., 2 years before the schedule), the British Government announced the appointment of a 7-member statutory commission under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon.

It was to report on the condition of India under its new Constitution.

All the members of the commission were British. This led to its boycott by all the parties.

The commission submitted its report in 1930.

It recommended -

1. abolition of dyarchy,

2. extension of responsible government in the provinces,

3. establishment of a federation of British India and princely states,

4. continuation of communal electorate, etc.

The British Government convened 3 round table conferences of the representatives of the British Government, British India and Indian princely states to consider the proposals of the commission.

Based on these discussions, a ‘White Paper on Constitutional Reforms’ was prepared.

It was submitted for consideration of the Joint Select Committee of the British Parliament.

The recommendations of this committee were incorporated(with certain changes) in the next Government of India Act , 1935.

In August 1932, Ramsay MacDonald, the British Prime Minister, announced the Communal Award which was a scheme of representation of the minorities.

The award continued separate electorates for the Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.

It also extended it to the depressed classes (scheduled castes).

Gandhiji was distressed over this and undertook fast unto death in Yeravada Jail (Poona) to force the award to be modified.

To break the fast, there was ‘Poona Pact’ between leaders of the Congress and the depressed classes.

The Pact kept the Hindu joint electorate and gave reserved seats to the depressed classes.