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Question 27 of 66 · Gandhian Era & Struggle for Independence
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The Poona Pact, signed by Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar, was concerned with the representation of:

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Answer: Option D — The depressed classes

Detailed Solution

The Poona Pact, signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B. R. Ambedkar on 24 September 1932, was concerned with the representation of the depressed classes (Dalits) in the legislatures.

Background:

  • The British government's award on communal representation had given separate electorates to the depressed classes, treating them as a separate minority.
  • Gandhi opposed this, as he believed it would permanently divide Hindu society and harm the cause of removing untouchability.
  • He began a fast unto death in protest.
  • Ambedkar believed that separate electorates were necessary for the depressed classes to get real political power.

Gandhi's fast created great pressure, and leaders such as Madan Mohan Malaviya, Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachari and M. R. Jayakar negotiated with Ambedkar.

Terms of the Poona Pact:

  • Separate electorates for the depressed classes were dropped; they would be part of the general (joint) electorate.
  • The number of seats reserved for the depressed classes in the provincial legislatures was increased from 71 to 148.
  • In the Central Legislature, 18 per cent of the seats for the general electorate were reserved for the depressed classes.

There would be a system of primary elections: the voters of the depressed classes would first elect a panel of four candidates for each reserved seat, from whom the final candidate would be elected by the joint electorate.

A fair share of jobs in public services and money for the education of the depressed classes were promised.

NCERT on the Poona Pact:

NCERT notes that the Poona Pact gave the depressed classes (later to be known as the Scheduled Castes) reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils, but they were to be voted in by the general electorate.

NCERT also notes that the Dalit movement continued to be apprehensive of the Congress-led national movement.

Significance:

  • It established the principle of reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes, which was continued in the Constitution of India.
  • Gandhi devoted himself to the cause of removing untouchability after this.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Muslims, women and the princely states were dealt with differently.

Quick tip

Remember: Poona Pact (24 September 1932; Gandhi and Ambedkar) = depressed classes; separate electorates dropped; reserved seats raised from 71 to 148 (NCERT).

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Gandhian Era & Struggle for Independence — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Gandhian Era & Struggle for Independence, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the freedom struggle from Gandhi's return to India in 1915 to independence in 1947: the Champaran, Kheda and Ahmedabad movements, the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh, the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements, the Round Table Conferences, the Cripps Mission, the Cabinet Mission and the partition of India. Most questions ask about the year, cause or result of a movement, or the event that ended it. For example, the Chauri Chaura incident (1922) led Gandhi to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement, and the Dandi March (1930) started the Civil Disobedience Movement. Learning these events on a timeline is the best way to avoid confusion. Practise the Gandhian era questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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