For finding out a solution to the constitutional problems, the British Government convened a Round Table Conference of distinguished leaders of India at London which was held in three sessions in 1930, 1931, 1932. The Congress refused to participate in the first session and launched a civil disobedience movement. The Congress accordingly agreed to participate in the second session of the Round Table Conference with K.M. Gandhi as its only spokesman.

The Hindu Muslim differences again figured prominently in the Round Table Conferences (1930-32) and no agreed constitutional formula could be evoled. The question of Muslim representation in the Punjab and Bengal proved to be “the real snag”. Despite Muslim readiness to surrender separate representation and weightages enjoyed by them in minority provinces, the Hindus put up an opposition that proved to be adamant and irreconcilable. “But an overwhelming body of Hindu opinion would concede to them neither the communal vote nor a territorial majority… Finally, the British Government, outmaneuvered the Muslims by presenting separate representation as an alternative to territorial majorities in the Punjab and Bengal. The triangular communal tangle remained unresolved even after protected parleys in the three Round Table Conferences. The intractable positions taken up by the major communities ruled out any compromise. Of course, both the parties blamed each other for the deadlock. Thus a way was opened for intervention by Ramsay MacDonald, the British Minister, who announced the Communal Award on 4 August, 1932 and spelt out the framework of communal representation.