Question

What benefits did the Poona Pact offer to the depressed classes?
A. 44 seats in the central legislature
B. 20% reservation in the provincial legislature
C. 19% seats in the central legislature and 148 seats in the provincial legislature
D. 50% reservation in the ICS

Answer 1

Hint: A result of the Communal Award granted in 1932, it was signed in Yerwada jail, Maharashtra between Dr B.R Ambedkar, Pandit Mohan Malviya and Mahatma Gandhi.

Complete answer: - The other options have not been implemented in reformative policies and are hence, irrelevant and incorrect.
- Option C. The exact seat allotment was:
Central Provinces with 20 seats, Odisha and Bihar with 18 seats, Bombay and Sindh region with 15 seats, and Bengal with 30 seats making the total 148 in number.
- Other provisions included an educational grant and a similar policy for occupying positions of power in the Public Services. This all applied for a period of 10 years.
- The agreement is not necessarily indicative of a peaceful agreement. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar did mention ‘blackmail’. However, this was still the first major step towards systemically abolishing untouchability.
- This is seen in Ambedkar’s continual strive to find a ‘perfect settlement’. The signing on the pact had been a strategic move as it showcased Ambedkar as the foremost Dalit leader while also balancing out the political dynamic with Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his party on the sidelines.
Therefore, option c is correct.

Note: It annulled the concept of separate electorates allocated by the McDonald Award, against which Gandhi fasted unto death. This had been announced after the Round Table Conference in London.