The Poona Pact which was signed between the British Government and Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 provided for

1. The Poona Pact was signed in September 1932 between Mahatma Gandhi (representing the depressed classes, although B.R. Ambedkar was the key negotiator for them) and the British Government (represented indirectly, as the pact was primarily between caste Hindu leaders and depressed class leaders to modify the Communal Award). 2. The Communal Award had granted separate electorates for the Depressed Classes (Harijans). Gandhi undertook a fast unto death in protest against this division within the Hindu community. 3. The Poona Pact abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the Depressed Classes. 4. Instead, it provided for a joint electorate, but significantly increased the number of reserved seats for the Depressed Classes in the provincial legislatures from 71 (as per the Communal Award) to 148, and also allocated 18% of the seats in the Central Legislature.