Round Table Conferences (1930–1933)

The Round Table Conferences were a series of three meetings held in London between
1930 and 1933 to discuss constitutional reforms in British India. These conferences were
called by the British Government to find a way to introduce self-government and resolve
political differences among Indian leaders.

1. First Round Table Conference (1930–1931)

 Date: November 1930 – January 1931

 Location: London
 Participants: About 89 delegates from British India, including representatives of
princes, landlords, minorities, and various communities.
 Boycott: The Indian National Congress (INC) boycotted this conference because
most of its leaders were in jail during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
 Outcome: No major progress was made, but agreement was reached on the principle
of federal government in India, combining British provinces and princely states.

2. Second Round Table Conference (1931–1932)

 Date: September – December 1931

 Background: After the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), the INC agreed to participate.
 Key Participants: Mahatma Gandhi represented the INC; Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
represented the Depressed Classes; Muhammad Ali Jinnah represented the Muslim
League.
 Main Issues: Representation of minorities, separate electorates, and the federal
structure of India.
 Outcome: The conference failed to reach an agreement due to deep differences
between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and other groups on political representation and
safeguards.

3. Third Round Table Conference (1932–1933)

 Date: November – December 1932

 Participants: Only a few Indian leaders attended; the Congress again boycotted it.
 Outcome: Despite limited participation, the British Government prepared a plan for
constitutional reforms which later became the basis of the Government of India Act
1935.

Overall Significance

 The Round Table Conferences failed to achieve political unity among Indian
communities.
 However, they laid the groundwork for the Government of India Act 1935, which
introduced provincial autonomy and federal structure.
 They also highlighted the growing demand for complete independence among
Indian leaders.
Government of India Act, 1935

The Government of India Act 1935 was the largest and most important constitutional
reform introduced by the British Government in colonial India. It was based on the
recommendations of the Simon Commission (1927) and the Round Table Conferences
(1930–1933).

This Act became a major step toward self-government in India and later served as the basis
for the Constitutions of both India and Pakistan after independence.

Main Features

1. Federal System

 The Act proposed an All-India Federation consisting of:

o British Indian provinces, and
o Princely states (if they agreed to join voluntarily).
 However, the federation never came into existence because the princely states
refused to join.

2. Provincial Autonomy

 Provincial governments were given more power and autonomy.

 Elected Indian ministers were allowed to control most departments in provinces.
 The role of the British Governor was reduced, though he still had special powers.

3. Dyarchy Abolished in Provinces

 The Dyarchy system, introduced by the Government of India Act 1919, was
abolished at the provincial level.
 However, it was introduced at the centre, dividing subjects into “reserved” and
“transferred” lists.

4. Bicameral Legislature at the Centre

 A Federal Legislature with two houses was proposed:

o Council of State (Upper House)
o Federal Assembly (Lower House)
 Members were partly elected and partly nominated.

5. Franchise (Voting Rights)

 The right to vote was given to about 10% of the Indian population on the basis of
property, income, and education qualifications — not universal suffrage.

6. Separate Electorates

 The system of separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Anglo-Indians,

and others was continued, strengthening communal divisions.
7. Establishment of Reserve Bank of India

 The Reserve Bank of India was established under this Act in 1935, to control
currency and credit.

8. Federal Court

 The Act established a Federal Court in 1937 to resolve disputes between provinces
and the central government.

Significance

 The Act marked a major step toward Indian self-rule.

 Provincial elections were held in 1937, leading to Congress ministries in several
provinces.
 However, the Act failed to satisfy Indian political leaders since real power remained
with the British Governors and Viceroy.
 Despite its flaws, it served as the constitutional basis for the governments of India
and Pakistan until 1947–1956.

White Paper on Indian Constitutional Reforms (1933)

After the Round Table Conferences (1930–1933) failed to reach a final agreement, the
British Government decided to prepare its own plan for India’s constitutional reforms. This
plan was published in March 1933 as a White Paper on Indian Constitutional Reforms.

Main Features

1. Summary of Proposals:
o The White Paper summarized the decisions and suggestions made during the
Round Table Conferences.
o It outlined the future constitutional structure of India.
2. Federal Government:
o It proposed to create an All-India Federation, including British Indian
provinces and Princely States.
o The federation would have a bicameral legislature (two houses).
3. Provincial Autonomy:
o Provinces would be given self-government with more powers for Indian
ministers.
o The system of Dyarchy (dual rule) was abolished in provinces.
4. Division of Powers:
o Powers were divided into Federal, Provincial, and Concurrent lists.
5. Safeguards:
o Certain subjects like defense, foreign affairs, and finance were kept under
British control.
o The Governor-General and Provincial Governors retained special powers.
6. Separate Electorates:
o The White Paper continued separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, and
other minorities.
7. Future Constitution:
 o The White Paper’s proposals were sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee
(JPC) in Britain for detailed examination.

Significance

 The White Paper of 1933 was an important step between the Round Table
Conferences and the Government of India Act 1935.
 It showed the British Government’s plan to introduce limited reforms while keeping
ultimate control in their own hands.

Communal Award (1932)

The Communal Award was announced by the British Prime Minister Ramsay
MacDonald on 16 August 1932.
It aimed to settle the issue of political representation among the various religious and
social communities in British India.

Background

 During the Round Table Conferences (1930–1932), Indian leaders could not agree
on how different communities should be represented in legislatures.
 To solve this, the British Government made its own decision, which became known as
the Communal Award.

Main Features

1. Separate Electorates:
o It continued and extended separate electorates for different religious and
minority communities — including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Anglo-
Indians, Europeans, and Depressed Classes (Scheduled Castes).
2. Increased Representation:
o The number of seats in provincial legislatures was increased for minorities.
o Muslims and other minorities got reserved seats according to their population
ratio in each province.
3. Depressed Classes (Scheduled Castes):
o The Depressed Classes (later called Dalits) were given separate electorates
for the first time, which caused disagreement among Indian leaders.
4. Weightage System:
o Minority communities were given more representation (weightage) than
their population in some provinces to protect their political interests.
5. Women’s Representation:
o The Award also provided reserved seats for women in legislatures for the
first time.

Reactions

 Muslims: Welcomed it because it safeguarded their political representation.

 Congress and Gandhi: Opposed it, especially the separate electorates for
Depressed Classes, as Gandhi believed it would divide Hindu society.
  Poona Pact (1932): After Gandhi’s fast-unto-death, an agreement was made between
Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (leader of Depressed Classes), known as the Poona
Pact, replacing separate electorates with reserved seats for Depressed Classes within
the general electorate.

Significance

 The Communal Award deepened communal divisions in Indian politics.

 It confirmed the British “divide and rule” policy.
 However, it also recognized the importance of minorities, especially Muslims, in
Indian constitutional reforms.

Simon Commission (1927)

The Simon Commission was a committee appointed by the British Government in 1927 to
review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and to suggest further
constitutional reforms for India.

It was officially known as the Indian Statutory Commission and was headed by Sir John
Simon.

Important Points

1. All Members Were British

o The Commission consisted of 7 members.
o There was not a single Indian member included.
o This caused anger and disappointment among Indians.
2. Reason for Appointment
o To examine how political reforms introduced in 1919 were working.
o To recommend new reforms for the future government of India.
3. Indian Reaction
o All major Indian political parties boycotted the Commission.
o The slogan "Simon Go Back!" became popular across India.
o People protested in many cities.
4. Lahore Incident
o During a protest in Lahore, police lathi-charged the crowd.
o Lala Lajpat Rai was injured and later died due to those injuries.
5. Outcome
o The Simon Commission suggested a federal system in India and more
autonomy in provinces.
o These recommendations later influenced the Round Table Conferences and
the Government of India Act 1935.

Why It Is Important

 It united Indian leaders against British policies.

 It showed that Indians wanted full participation in making their own constitution.
 It led to later reforms and made British realize that they must involve Indians in
constitutional decisions.
Cripps Mission / Cripps Proposals 1942

During World War II, the British Government needed Indian support for the war. So, in
March 1942, Prime Minister Winston Churchill sent a special mission to India under Sir
Stafford Cripps.
This mission is known as the Cripps Mission.

Its purpose was to offer constitutional reforms and to convince Indian leaders to fully
support the British war efforts against Germany and Japan.

Main Proposals of Cripps Mission

1. Dominion Status After War

o After World War II, India would be given Dominion Status (like Canada,
Australia).
o India would be free to make its own constitution.
2. Right of Provinces to Separate
o Any province or princely state could choose not to join the Indian Union.
o This option gave an opening for Pakistan idea (separate Muslim majority
state).
3. Constituent Assembly
o After the war, a Constituent Assembly would be set up to frame India’s
future constitution.
o Majority of its members would be Indians.
4. British Control in War
o During the ongoing war period, British would keep control over defense and
important decisions.

Reactions

 Congress: Rejected the proposals because they wanted full independence

immediately, not after the war.
 Muslim League: Also rejected it, because the right to separate provinces was not
clearly promised as a separate independent Pakistan.
 British: Failed to satisfy both major Indian parties.

Outcome

 The Cripps Mission completely failed.

 After this failure, the Congress launched the Quit India Movement (1942).

Significance

 Cripps Mission showed that British were losing control and trying to negotiate.
 It gave indirect recognition to the idea that Muslims could have a separate state.
 It increased tension and direct struggle for independence.
Simla Conference (1945)

In June–July 1945, the British Government called a meeting of Indian political leaders at
Simla (Shimla).
The purpose of the conference was to discuss how India would be governed during the
transition period until the new constitution was made.

This conference was led by the Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell.

Therefore, it is also linked with the Wavell Plan.

Background

After World War II ended, the British decided that India must be included in government
with more powers.
So the British prepared the Wavell Plan and invited all major leaders to Simla.

Main Proposals (Wavell Plan)

1. All-India Executive Council

o The Executive Council of the Viceroy would be re-organized.
o All its members (except Viceroy) would be Indians.
2. Equal Representation
o In the Executive Council, Muslims and Hindus were to be given equal
representation (50-50).
3. Right of Muslim League
o The Muslim League demanded that all Muslim seats should be given only to
the Muslim League.
4. Congress demands
o Congress wanted to choose some Muslim members also (they claimed they
represented all communities of India).

Why the Conference Failed?

 The British could not accept both demands at the same time.
 Muslim League said: We are the only representative party of Muslims.
 Congress said: We represent all Indians, and we want to nominate some Muslims.

Because of this clash between Congress and Muslim League, the Simla Conference failed.

Significance

 The failure of the Simla Conference proved that British could no longer make
agreements without settling Hindu-Muslim disputes.
 It also strengthened the position of the Muslim League as the only representative of
Muslims.
 This failure led the British to hold elections in 1945–46, in which the Muslim League
later performed strongly.