The Government of India Act, 1919 had a provision that a commission would be appointed ten years from the date to study the progress of the governance scheme and suggest new steps. In 1927, the Government of Britain appointed an all-white, seven-member Indian Statutory Commission, popularly known as the Simon Commission after its Chairman, Sir John Simon.

The call for a boycott of the Commission was endorsed by the Liberal Federation led by Tej Bahadur Sapru, by the Hindu Mahasabha; and by Mohammed Ali Jinnah carrying the majority of Muslim League with him. However, it was Indian National Congress, however, that turned the boycott into a popular movement.

However, in Muslim league, there was a split of thought. Jinnah was for boycotting the commission; but Muhammad Shafi was for support for the Government. Thus in 1927, Muslim league had two sessions– One was led by Jinnah at Calcutta where he opposed the Commission. Another was held at Lahore that was led by Muhammad Shafi, where he supported the Government. So, all parties except the Shafi group of Muslim league and a Justice Party at Madras, were against the Simon Commission.

During the Anti-Simon Commission protests, Lala Lajpat Rai was attacked by the police and shortly thereafter he died.

The Simon Commission published a two-volume report in May 1930.

The Commission contained no mention of Dominion Status and was in other ways also a regressive document. It proposed the abolition of dyarchy and the establishment of representative government in the provinces which should be given autonomy. It said that the governor should have discretionary power in relation to internal security and administrative powers to protect the different communities.

In November 1927, the British government appointed the Simon Commission to report on India’s constitutional progress for introducing constitutional reforms, as promised.

The call for a boycott of the Commission was endorsed by the Liberal Federation led by Tej Bahadur Sapru, by the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress, and by the Hindu Mahasabha. The Muslim League even split on the issue, Mohammed Ali Jinnah carrying the majority with him in favor of the boycott.

In 1927, the Indian National Congress passed a resolution boycotting Simon Commission under the presidentship of M.A.Ansari, in Madras supported by all.

In 1929, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar made a controversial decision to co-operate with the all-British Simon Commission which was to look into setting up a responsible Indian Government in India. The Congress decided to boycott the Commission and drafted its own version of a constitution for free India. The Congress version had no provisions for the depressed classes. Ambedkar became more skeptical of Congress’s commitment to safeguard the rights of the depressed classes. He represented the “Bahishkrit Hitakarni Sabha” in Bombay Legislative Council and cooperated with Simon Commission.

The initial attempt to train the Civil Servants locally was done by Lord Wellesley. Within the campus of the Fort William, he founded Fort Williams College on 10 July 1800. Hence

The Charter Act of 1853 provided for an open competitive examination for the recruitment of civil servants and had deprived the Court of Directors of the power of appointments based on patronage. This was recommended by a committee headed by Lord Macaulay. The first competitive exam was held in 1855.

Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha was compared by Napoleon’s visit to Paris by Subhash Chandra Bose.