When the Simon Commission visited India in 1928 to review the working of the Government of India Act, who was serving as the Viceroy of India?

Introduction / Context:
The Simon Commission, officially known as the Indian Statutory Commission, was appointed by the British government to review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and suggest further constitutional reforms. Its arrival in India in 1928 triggered widespread protests because it had no Indian members. This question asks you to identify the Viceroy of India at that time, which helps situate the event in the broader timeline of colonial administration.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The commission in question is the Simon Commission of 1927 1928.
• The key date of its arrival in India is 1928.
• Options list Lord Irwin, Lord Reading, Lloyd George, and Lord Ripon.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this, we match the dates of viceroys with the arrival of the Simon Commission. Lord Reading served as Viceroy from 1921 to 1926. His successor, Lord Irwin, held office from 1926 to 1931. Since the commission came to India in 1928, it falls squarely within Lord Irwin s tenure. Lloyd George was a British Prime Minister, not a Viceroy, and Lord Ripon served much earlier in the 1880s.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Simon Commission was appointed in 1927 and visited India in 1928. Step 2: Check the timeline of viceroys: Lord Reading was Viceroy till 1926. Step 3: Note that Lord Irwin took over as Viceroy in 1926 and remained in office until 1931. Step 4: As 1928 lies within this period, the Viceroy during the commission s visit must be Lord Irwin. Step 5: Recognise that Lloyd George was a British Prime Minister and cannot be an Indian Viceroy in this context. Step 6: Remember that Lord Ripon s tenure was decades earlier and unrelated to the Simon Commission.

Verification / Alternative check:
History books on the freedom movement usually mention Lord Irwin in connection with the Simon Commission, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the Gandhi Irwin Pact. This cluster of events confirms that he was indeed the Viceroy during the commission s visit.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Reading had completed his term before the commission arrived. Lloyd George, while influential in British politics, was not the Viceroy of India. Lord Ripon is known for earlier liberal reforms such as the Ilbert Bill controversy and served in the nineteenth century, making him chronologically impossible for this event.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may mix up the names and time periods of viceroys or confuse British Prime Ministers with Indian Viceroys. A simple timeline of major viceroys and the events associated with them is very useful to avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
When the Simon Commission visited India in 1928, the Viceroy of India was Lord Irwin.