With reference to the period of Indian freedom struggle, which of the following was/were recommended by the Nehru Report? 1. Complete Independence for India. 2. Joint electorates for reservation of seats for minorities. 3. Provision of fundamental rights for the people of India in the constitution. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Contents13
- A1 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1 and 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (B) 2 and 3 only
Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Statement 1 is WRONG.
The Nehru Report (1928), prepared by a committee headed by Motilal Nehru, was a proposed constitution for India.
Statement 1 (✗): The Nehru Report did NOT demand complete independence. It recommended DOMINION STATUS — self-governance within the British Empire (like Canada or Australia at that time). This became controversial: younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose demanded PURNA SWARAJ (complete independence) instead. This disagreement was resolved at the Lahore Congress (1929), which formally adopted complete independence as the goal.
Statement 2 (✓): The Report recommended JOINT ELECTORATES (all communities vote together) with RESERVED SEATS for minorities — a middle ground between separate electorates (which the Muslim League wanted) and no reservations at all.
Statement 3 (✓): The Report included a detailed Bill of Rights (fundamental rights) for Indian citizens — one of the first such proposals.
Key timeline:
- Nehru Report (1928, dominion status)
- rejected by radicals
- Lahore Session (1929, Purna Swaraj)
- January 26, 1930 (first Independence Day celebrated).
The Nehru Report (1928) was the last major attempt to achieve constitutional reform through dominion status before the freedom movement shifted to demanding complete independence.
The key trap is confusing the Nehru Report's demand for dominion status with the Lahore Congress resolution of 1929 that adopted Purna Swaraj (complete independence) as the goal.
UPSC is testing whether students can distinguish between different phases of constitutional demands in the freedom struggle - from dominion status to complete independence.
Nehru Report 1928
Modern Indian History Nehru Report
Nehru Report 1928: Constitutional Blueprint & Key Provisions
Nehru Report (1928) recommended dominion status, not complete independence
Proposed joint electorates with reserved seats for minorities
Included detailed Bill of Rights for Indian citizens
Committee headed by Motilal Nehru, rejected by younger leaders
Background & Purpose
The Nehru Report was drafted in 1928 by a committee headed by Motilal Nehru as India's proposed constitution. It was created in response to the Simon Commission (which had no Indian members) to show that Indians could draft their own constitutional framework.
Key Recommendations
Provision | Nehru Report Recommendation | Significance |
|---|---|---|
Political Status | Dominion Status within British Empire | Self-governance like Canada/Australia, not complete independence |
Electoral System | Joint Electorates with reserved seats | Middle ground between separate electorates and no reservations |
Fundamental Rights | Detailed Bill of Rights for citizens | One of first comprehensive rights proposals in India |
Language | Hindi as national language | Created controversy among non-Hindi speaking regions |
Federal Structure | Strong central government | Provinces with limited autonomy |
Question Connection
This PYQ tests the dominion status vs complete independence distinction. Statement 1 is the trap — Nehru Report wanted dominion status, while Purna Swaraj (complete independence) was adopted later at Lahore Congress (1929).
Trap: Nehru Report demanded complete independence — WRONG. It wanted dominion status.
Confusion: Don't mix Nehru Report (1928) with Lahore Congress resolution (1929) on Purna Swaraj.
Name trap: Motilal Nehru headed the committee, not Jawaharlal Nehru who opposed it.
Dominion Status vs Purna Swaraj
Modern Indian History Complete Independence dominion status
Dominion Status vs Purna Swaraj: Constitutional Goals Debate
Dominion Status = self-governance within British Empire (like Canada)
Purna Swaraj = complete independence from British Empire
Lahore Congress (1929) formally adopted Purna Swaraj as goal
January 26, 1930 first celebrated as Independence Day
Key Differences
Aspect | Dominion Status | Purna Swaraj |
|---|---|---|
Political Status | Self-governing within British Empire | Complete independence from British Empire |
Examples | Canada, Australia in 1920s | USA after 1776 |
British Connection | Symbolic ties remain | Complete severance of ties |
Nehru Report Position | Recommended this option | Rejected this option |
Congress Position (1929) | Abandoned after Lahore Session | Officially adopted as goal |
Supporters | Motilal Nehru, moderates | Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Bose, radicals |
Timeline of Goal Evolution
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Nehru Report (1928)**
Recommends **dominion status** as constitutional goal`"]
s2["`**Internal Congress Debate**
Younger leaders oppose, demand **complete independence**`"]
s3["`**Lahore Congress (Dec 1929)**
Formally adopts **Purna Swaraj** as Congress goal`"]
s4["`**January 26, 1930**
First **Independence Day** celebrated across India`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4Date confusion: Nehru Report (1928) ≠ Lahore Congress (1929) ≠ First Independence Day (1930)
Goal reversal: Nehru Report wanted dominion status, not Purna Swaraj
Father-son split: Motilal supported dominion status, Jawaharlal demanded Purna Swaraj
Joint vs Separate Electorates
Modern Indian History Joint electorates minorities
Joint vs Separate Electorates: Communal Representation Debate
Joint Electorates = all communities vote together for all candidates
Separate Electorates = each community votes only for candidates from their community
Nehru Report supported joint electorates with reserved seats
Muslim League preferred separate electorates for Muslims
Electoral System Comparison
System | How It Works | Who Supported | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Joint Electorates | All voters choose from all candidates | Congress, Nehru Report | Promotes national unity | May ignore minority interests |
Separate Electorates | Each community votes only for their own | Muslim League | Guarantees minority representation | Deepens communal divisions |
Joint + Reserved Seats | All vote together, but seats reserved for minorities | Nehru Report compromise | Unity + minority protection | Complex to implement |
Historical Context
Separate electorates were first introduced by the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) for Muslims. The Nehru Report's joint electorate proposal was a compromise — it rejected separate electorates (which Congress saw as divisive) but offered reserved seats to address minority concerns about adequate representation.
System confusion: Joint electorates ≠ no reservations. Nehru Report had both joint voting and reserved seats.
Position reversal: Congress supported joint electorates, Muslim League wanted separate electorates
Implementation mix-up: Reserved seats can exist in both joint and separate electorate systems
Fundamental Rights in Indian Constitution
Indian Polity fundamental rights
Fundamental Rights: From Nehru Report to Indian Constitution
Nehru Report (1928) included India's first comprehensive Bill of Rights
These rights influenced Part III of the Indian Constitution
Current Constitution has 6 fundamental rights under Articles 12-35
Right to Property was removed by 44th Amendment (1978)
Historical Significance
The Nehru Report was among the first Indian documents to propose detailed fundamental rights for citizens. This concept was revolutionary for 1928 and directly influenced the Fundamental Rights chapter (Part III) of India's Constitution.
Current Fundamental Rights
Right | Articles | Key Provisions | Exceptions/Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
Right to Equality | 14-18 | Equality before law, no discrimination | Reasonable classification allowed |
Right to Freedom | 19-22 | Speech, assembly, movement, profession | Restrictions for public order, morality |
Right against Exploitation | 23-24 | No forced labor, child labor banned | Military service allowed |
Right to Freedom of Religion | 25-28 | Practice, propagate religion | Public order restrictions |
Cultural & Educational Rights | 29-30 | Minority rights, educational institutions | National interest limits |
Right to Constitutional Remedies | 32 | Enforce rights through courts | Emergency can suspend |
Historical sequence: Nehru Report (1928) → Karachi Resolution (1931) → Constituent Assembly → Constitution (1950)
Numbers trap: Currently 6 fundamental rights, not 7 (Right to Property removed in 1978)
Article confusion: Right to Constitutional Remedies is in Article 32, called 'heart and soul' by Ambedkar