In 1919, a committee chaired by the
Marquess of Crewe determined there existed the need to separate the agency work of the
India Office from its other political and administrative roles, and recommended the transfer of all such work to "a High Commissioner for India or some similar Indian Governmental Representative in London." It was also felt popular opinion in India would view this as a step towards full
Dominion status for India. The
Government of India Act 1919 upheld the recommendations of the committee, making provision for "the appointment of a High Commissioner by His Majesty by Order in Council, which might delegate to the official any of the contractual powers of the Secretary of State [for India] in Council, and prescribe the conditions, under which he should act on behalf of the Government of India or any Provincial Government." On 13 August 1920, King-Emperor George V issued the required Order in Council. Until India became independent in 1947, the post was styled "High Commissioner for India". The first High Commissioner for India was
Indian Civil Service officer Sir
William Stevenson Meyer; the first of Indian origin was Sir
Dadiba Merwanji Dalal. The High Commissioner enjoyed the same status as his counterparts from the British Dominions. It was formally inaugurated on 8 July 1930 by the King-Emperor
George V. A bust of
Jawaharlal Nehru was unveiled by Prime Minister
John Major in 1991. ==Emblems==