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Simon Commission to Poorna Swaraj | ISC Class 11 History

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HistoryISC Class 11 · Gandhian Nationalism 1927-1937

The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj (ISC Class 11 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The all-British Simon Commission (November 1927) was boycotted for excluding Indians; the Nehru Report (August 1928) proposed Dominion Status; and when the government did not accept it, the Lahore Congress (December 1929), presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, declared Poorna Swaraj and fixed 26 January 1930 as Independence Day.

Understand The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj

Simon Commission. Appointed in November 1927 under Sir John Simon to review the 1919 reforms, two years early, with seven British MPs and no Indian. Reasons for boycott: no Indian member, an insult to self-respect; Indians would have no say in their own constitution; the early appointment looked like a Conservative move before a possible Labour government. The Madras Congress (December 1927) resolved to boycott it at every stage and in every form; Jinnah's section of the Muslim League joined. It landed at Bombay on 3 February 1928 to an all-India hartal and black flags with "Simon, go back". At Lahore in October 1928 Lala Lajpat Rai was hit in a police lathi-charge and died the following month.

Nehru Report (August 1928). Lord Birkenhead challenged Indians to draft an agreed constitution; an All Parties Conference set up a committee under Motilal Nehru. Proposals: Dominion Status; responsible government at the centre and in the provinces; joint electorates with reserved seats for minorities where they were in a minority; universal adult suffrage; fundamental rights including equal rights for women; linguistic provinces; no state religion. Jinnah's amendments (such as one-third of central seats for Muslims) were rejected at the Calcutta convention (December 1928); he drew up his Fourteen Points (1929). Younger leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Bose rejected Dominion Status, and the Calcutta Congress gave the government a year: if Dominion Status was not granted by 31 December 1929 the Congress would demand complete independence and launch civil disobedience.

Lahore session (December 1929). Irwin's declaration of October 1929 spoke vaguely of Dominion Status as the natural issue of India's progress and promised a Round Table Conference, but a meeting in December 1929 failed to win a firm commitment. Under Jawaharlal Nehru the Congress resolved: (1) Swaraj means Poorna Swaraj (complete independence); the Nehru Report scheme had lapsed; (2) boycott the Round Table Conference; (3) members to resign from legislatures and boycott elections; (4) AICC authorised to launch civil disobedience including non-payment of taxes; (5) 26 January 1930 to be celebrated as Independence Day with a pledge. At midnight on 31 December 1929 Nehru hoisted the tricolour on the banks of the Ravi. The Independence Pledge declared that British rule had ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually and that it was a crime against man and God to submit any longer.

The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj: key facts

Timeline
November 1927Simon Commission
3 February 1928lands in Bombay
August 1928Nehru Report
December 1928Calcutta deadline
December 1929Lahore
Nehru Report
  • Dominion Status
  • Joint electorates with reserved seats
  • Adult suffrage
  • Fundamental rights
  • Linguistic provinces
Lahore resolution
  • Poorna Swaraj
  • Boycott Round Table Conference
  • Resign legislatures
  • Civil disobedience
  • 26 January 1930
People
  • Simon
  • Motilal Nehru
  • Birkenhead
  • Irwin
  • Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Jinnah
  • Lala Lajpat Rai

How to answer The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj questions

Expect 4-mark reasons or proposals questions and an 8-mark question on the road to Lahore.

  1. 1List reasons for boycott in numbered points.
  2. 2Summarise the Nehru Report in six proposals.
  3. 3Explain the one-year deadline and its link to Lahore.
  4. 4Give the five points of the Lahore resolution.

The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A year to decide

Suppose a congress warns a government that if a demand is not met by 31 December 1929, a stronger demand will follow.

Which 1928 decision does this model?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The Calcutta Congress gave the government a one-year deadline for Dominion Status.
  2. If it failed the Congress would demand complete independence.

Answer: The Calcutta deadline of December 1928.

Memory hook: Deadline then escalation.

Black flags

Suppose a delegation lands in a port city and is greeted by closed shops and black flags with a slogan.

Which 1928 event is this?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The Simon Commission landed at Bombay on 3 February 1928.
  2. It was met with an all-India hartal and "Simon, go back".

Answer: The Simon Commission's arrival.

Memory hook: Black flags greet no Indians.

Tricks to remember The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • No Indian, no say, no wait

    Three reasons for the boycott: no Indian member, no say in the constitution, early appointment.

    Use it when: Boycott reasons.

  • Dominion then Poorna

    Nehru Report (Dominion), Lahore (Poorna).

    Use it when: Evolution of the demand.

The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Commission head · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The Simon Commission was headed by:
(a) Lord Irwin
(b) Sir John Simon
(c) Lord Birkenhead
(d) Motilal Nehru

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Seven British MPs.

Answer: (b) Sir John Simon.

Example 2: Lahore resolution · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

State when and under whose presidency the Poorna Swaraj resolution was adopted and the date to be observed as Independence Day.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. December 1929 at Lahore.
  2. Presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru.
  3. 26 January 1930.

Answer: Lahore, December 1929; Jawaharlal Nehru; 26 January 1930.

Example 3: Boycott reasons · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain three reasons why the Simon Commission was boycotted.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. It had no Indian member, which was an insult to Indian self-respect.
  2. Indians would have no say in deciding their own constitution.
  3. Its early appointment seemed a Conservative move to fix India's future before a Labour government.
  4. The Congress and Jinnah's League section agreed to boycott it in every form.

Answer: No Indian member, no say in the constitution and a political timing motive.

Example 4: Nehru Report · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain the main proposals of the Nehru Report and why some Muslim leaders and younger Congress leaders objected.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Dominion Status, responsible government, adult suffrage and fundamental rights.
  2. Joint electorates with reservation where minorities were in a minority.
  3. Jinnah's amendments such as one-third of central seats were rejected and he issued Fourteen Points.
  4. Younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Bose rejected Dominion Status and wanted complete independence.

Answer: Dominion Status and joint electorates; Jinnah and younger leaders objected for different reasons.

Example 5: Source work · 5 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

Read the extract and answer.
The Independence Pledge declared that British rule had ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually, and that it was a crime against man and God to submit any longer to such rule.
(i) On which date was the pledge taken? [1]
(ii) Name two ways in which the pledge says India was ruined. [2]
(iii) Why did the Congress choose complete independence over Dominion Status in 1929? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) 26 January 1930.
  2. (ii) Economically and politically (also culturally or spiritually).
  3. (iii) The government did not accept the Nehru Report or give a firm commitment on Dominion Status by the deadline, and younger leaders demanded full independence.

Answer: (i) 26 January 1930 (ii) economically, politically (iii) no firm commitment on Dominion Status.

Where students lose marks in The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Saying Nehru Report asked for independence

    Dominion Status is overlooked.

    Wrong working

    Nehru Report: Poorna Swaraj

    Right working

    Nehru Report: Dominion Status

    Do this: The Nehru Report proposed Dominion Status.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Confusing Motilal and Jawaharlal

    Roles swapped.

    Do this: Motilal drafted the Report; Jawaharlal presided over Lahore.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Forgetting the deadline

    Link missing.

    Do this: Mention the Calcutta one-year deadline ending 31 December 1929.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Give dates in order.
  • Name the Nehrus correctly.
  • List five Lahore points.
  • Mention Jinnah's Fourteen Points.

Practice questions on The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Who presided over the committee that prepared the Nehru Report?
    (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
    (b) Motilal Nehru
    (c) Jinnah
    (d) Tej Bahadur Sapru

    Hint

    August 1928.

    Answer

    (b) Motilal Nehru.

  2. Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Who was Lala Lajpat Rai and how did he die?

    Hint

    Lahore, October 1928.

    Answer

    He was a Congress leader who was hit in a police lathi-charge at a Lahore demonstration against the Simon Commission in October 1928 and died the following month.

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Show the number of years between the Nehru Report (1928) and Independence Day pledge (1930) and the days left after the Calcutta deadline of 31 December 1929 to 26 January 1930.

    Hint

    Subtract; count days.

    Answer

    1930 - 1928 = 2 years. 31 December 1929 to 26 January 1930 is 26 days.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Explain Irwin's declaration of October 1929 and the failure of the December talks.

    Hint

    Vague Dominion Status.

    Answer

    Irwin spoke vaguely of Dominion Status as the natural issue of India's progress and promised a Round Table Conference, but a meeting with Congress leaders in December 1929 failed to win a firm commitment, leading to the Lahore decision.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency

    Assertion (A): The Lahore Congress boycotted the Round Table Conference.
    Reason (R): It had declared Poorna Swaraj the goal and the Nehru Report scheme had lapsed.
    (a) Both true and R explains A
    (b) Both true but R does not explain A
    (c) A true, R false
    (d) A false, R true

    Hint

    Lahore resolution points.

    Answer

    (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Commission appointed?Show answer

    November 1927.

  2. 2.Report of August 1928?Show answer

    Nehru Report.

  3. 3.Lahore president?Show answer

    Jawaharlal Nehru.

  4. 4.Independence Day 1930?Show answer

    26 January.

  5. 5.Slogan?Show answer

    Simon, go back.

The Simon Commission, Nehru Report and Poorna Swaraj: frequently asked questions

Why was the Commission early?

It was appointed two years earlier than the Act required.

What river at Lahore?

The Ravi.

What did Jinnah draw up?

The Fourteen Points (1929).