{"id":3845,"date":"2026-03-04T16:21:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T10:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=3845"},"modified":"2026-03-10T13:18:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T07:48:27","slug":"round-table-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/round-table-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Round Table Conferences, First, Second, Third Conferences"},"content":{"rendered":"

Round Table Conferences:<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0Simon Commission<\/strong>\u00a0report (1930) was published in the midst of government repression and the intensification of the civil disobedience movement, and there was no suggestion that India might be granted dominion status. As a result, even the most moderate Indian political opinion turned against the British. The Viceroy then extended an invitation to a Round Table Conference and stated that the award of Dominion Status would be discussed. Between 1930 and 1932, the British government convened a series of round table conferences to discuss India's future government.<\/p>\r\n

First Round Table Conference<\/h2>\r\n

In response to the\u00a0Simon Report<\/a>'s shortcomings<\/strong>, the Labour Government, led by\u00a0Ramsay MacDonald<\/strong>, decided to hold a series of Round Table Conferences in London. It was the first time that Indians and the British met as\u00a0'equals<\/strong>.' On November 12th, 1930, the first conference began.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Date:\u00a0<\/strong>12th November, 1930<\/td>\r\nPlace:\u00a0<\/strong>London<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Presided by<\/strong><\/td>\r\n- Ramsay MacDonald (Prime Minister of Britain)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Participants<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

-The Princely States, Muslim League, Justice Party, Hindu Mahasabha, and others were among those who attended.<\/p>\r\n

- The\u00a0Indian National Congress<\/strong><\/a>, as well as other prominent politicians, did not participate because Congress decided to boycott the round table conferences at the Lahore session, and majority of leaders had been imprisoned for being involved in the\u00a0Civil Disobedience Movement<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

Issues Discussed<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

- The\u00a0federal government structure<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

- The\u00a0executive's\u00a0<\/strong>accountability to the\u00a0legislature<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

-\u00a0Separate electorates<\/strong>\u00a0for \"untouchables as proposed by\u00a0Dr B R Ambedkar<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

- Tej Bahadur Sapru proposed an\u00a0All-India Federation<\/strong>. The Muslim League agreed with this.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

Outcome<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

- It was generally agreed that if India was to develop into a federation, there were to be safeguards regarding\u00a0defence\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0finance<\/strong>, while other departments were to be transferred.<\/p>\r\n

-The Indian National Congress leaders continued the Civil Disobedience Movement during the First Round Table Conference. As a result, the First Round Table Conference was deemed a failure.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

Second Round Table Conference<\/h2>\r\n

The British Government acknowledged the importance of the Congress Party's participation in Round Table Conferences for effective reform implementation and expressed hope that INC leaders would attend the Second Round Table Conference.<\/p>\r\n

Lord Irwin met with Gandhi to reach a compromise. On 5 March 1931, Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin signed the\u00a0Gandhi-Irwin Pact<\/strong><\/a>, and they agreed on the following to pave the way for the Congress' participation in the second Round Table Conference:<\/p>\r\n