The Indian National Congress had decided not to participate in the conference because many Congress leaders were imprisoned at that time because of participation in Civil Disobedience Movements.
The demand for "Swaraj" was also initiated at that period.
This Conference deemed a failure because many reforms were not implemented.
However, Lord Irwin requested Gandhi to discontinue the Civil Disobedience Movement and it turned into the Second Round Table Conference. The Government withdrew some of the prosecutions.