The Poona Pact aimed at
2023
The Poona Pact aimed at
Answer: C. political representation of depressed class — ConceptAn agreement about a community’s place in a legislature is classified by the electoral mechanism it creates. Separate electorates let only that…
- A.
formation of federation with Princely States
- B.
women representation in the Indian National Congress
- C.
political representation of depressed class
- D.
More than one of the above
- E.
None of the above
Attempted by 7 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
An agreement about a community’s place in a legislature is classified by the electoral mechanism it creates. Separate electorates let only that community’s voters elect its representatives; joint electorates with reserved seats let the whole constituency vote while guaranteeing designated seats to that community.
Such an agreement is therefore an instrument of political representation when its operative clauses determine who elects a community’s legislators and how many seats that community receives.
Application
The Communal Award announced by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald in August 1932 granted separate electorates to the Depressed Classes.
Mahatma Gandhi opposed this electoral separation and began a fast in Yerwada Jail on 20 September 1932.
Negotiations with Dr B. R. Ambedkar produced the Poona Pact, signed on 24 September 1932.
The Pact replaced separate electorates with joint electorates and reserved seats. It increased the provincial seats reserved for the Depressed Classes from 71 to 148 and reserved 18 per cent of the general-electorate seats assigned to British India in the Central Legislature.
These provisions directly regulate the legislative representation of the Depressed Classes; related clauses extend the same concern to local bodies, public services, and educational grants.
Contrast and cross-check
Formation of a federation with the Princely States belonged to the constitutional scheme debated at the Round Table Conferences and later enacted in Part II of the Government of India Act, 1935.
Women’s representation in the Indian National Congress concerned the internal organisation of a political party, not the electoral arrangement created by the Pact.
“More than one of the above” would require at least two listed aims to be established, while “None of the above” would require all three listed aims to fail; the Pact’s clauses establish exactly one of them.
Result
The Poona Pact aimed at the political representation of the Depressed Classes.