--- title: "Simon Commission of 1927: Boycott and Impact" description: "The Simon Commission of 1927 was a British body that reviewed India's 1919 reforms, sparking widespread Indian protests for its lack of Indian representation." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/simon-commission-1927" --- [New](https://modeldiplomat.com/) # Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026 TL;DR - The Simon Commission was a seven-member British statutory body appointed in 1927 to review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and recommend constitutional reforms. - Why did Indians boycott the Simon Commission? - How is the Simon Commission related to the Nehru Report? - What did the Simon Commission recommend? - What was the connection between the Simon Commission and Lala Lajpat Rai's death? [Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026 Go beyond the definition ## Research Simon Commission of 1927 like a delegate Model Diplomat's AI drafts position papers, speeches, and country research with real sources — built for MUN and politics students. ## Timeline 1. 3 February 1928 When the commission landed at Bombay on , it was met with black-flag demonstrations and the slogan "Simon, go back." The Indian National Congress, at its Mad… 2. 30 October 1928 At Lahore on , a peaceful demonstration against the commission led by Lala Lajpat Rai was met with a police lathi charge; Lajpat Rai sustained injuries and d… 3. 17 November 1928 At Lahore on 30 October 1928, a peaceful demonstration against the commission led by Lala Lajpat Rai was met with a police lathi charge; Lajpat Rai sustained… ## Positions at a glance ### Indian National Congress The defining feature of the commission in Indian political memory was its all-white composition and the boycott it provoked. No Indian was appointed to the seven-member body, an exclusion the Government of India justified on the constitutional theory that Parliament alone should determine the future of a parliamentary statute. When the commission landed at Bombay on 3 February 1928, it was met with black-flag demonstrations and the slogan "Simon, go back." The Indian National Congress, at its Madras session of December 1927, had already resolved to boycott the commission "at every stage and in every form." The Muslim League split, with the faction led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah joining the boycott. At Lahore on 30 October 1928, a peaceful demonstration against the commission led by Lala Lajpat Rai was met with a police lathi charge; Lajpat Rai sustained injuries and died on 17 November 1928, an event that galvanised revolutionary nationalism and prompted the assassination of police officer J. P. Saunders. ### All-India Muslim League The defining feature of the commission in Indian political memory was its all-white composition and the boycott it provoked. No Indian was appointed to the seven-member body, an exclusion the Government of India justified on the constitutional theory that Parliament alone should determine the future of a parliamentary statute. When the commission landed at Bombay on 3 February 1928, it was met with black-flag demonstrations and the slogan "Simon, go back." The Indian National Congress, at its Madras session of December 1927, had already resolved to boycott the commission "at every stage and in every form." The Muslim League split, with the faction led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah joining the boycott. At Lahore on 30 October 1928, a peaceful demonstration against the commission led by Lala Lajpat Rai was met with a police lathi charge; Lajpat Rai sustained injuries and died on 17 November 1928, an event that galvanised revolutionary nationalism and prompted the assassination of police officer J. P. Saunders. ## Research it like a delegate Research on modeldiplomat.com ## Ask a follow-up about Simon Commission of 1927 Open a cited briefing in Model Diplomat search — timelines, positions, and sources you can use in committee or exam answers. [Start research on Simon Commission of 1927](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=Explain%20Simon%20Commission%20of%201927%20%E2%80%94%20key%20dates%2C%20actors%2C%20positions%2C%20and%20sources) Example The Indian National Congress, at its Madras session in December 1927, resolved to boycott the Simon Commission, and on 3 February 1928 demonstrators met the commissioners at Bombay with black flags and the slogan "Simon, go back." Keep learning ## Go deeper than the definition [Explore all Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams lessons](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services)[Test yourself with a quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/quiz/civil-services) ## Take Simon Commission of 1927 beyond the glossary Ask the AI research engine built for diplomacy — get briefings, position papers, and speeches with sources you can cite in committee.