The Cunningham Circular was issued on May 30, 1930 by R. J. Cunningham, the Director of Public Instruction in Assam. The circular ordered that students and their parents must give a written promise stating that students would not take part in any political activities.
It also warned that students who violated this rule would be punished—they could be fined, lose their scholarships, or even be expelled for serious offences.
The students of Assam strongly opposed this circular. As a result, large numbers of students joined the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the circular actually helped to spread the movement widely in Assam.