Q. How many seats did the depressed classes get as per the Communal Award and Poona Pact?
(a) 77 and 179 respectively
(b) 78 and 83 respectively
(c) 71 and 147 respectively
(d) 79and 129 respectively
Ans: (c) 71 and 147 respectively
Explanation: The correct answer is (c) 71 and 147 respectively.
The Communal Award, announced by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald in 1932, provided separate electorates for various communities in India, including the depressed classes (now known as Scheduled Castes). According to the Communal Award, the depressed classes were allocated 71 seats.
However, B.R. Ambedkar, the leader of the depressed classes, felt that the representation allocated to them was inadequate. After negotiations with Mahatma Gandhi, the Poona Pact was signed in 1932 as a compromise. As per the Poona Pact, the depressed classes were allocated 147 seats, which was an increase from the earlier allocation under the Communal Award.
Therefore, the correct answer is (c) 71 and 147 respectively for the number of seats allocated to the depressed classes as per the Communal Award and the Poona Pact, respectively.
