Communal Award and Poona Pact (1932)

Total Questions: 24

11. Who among the following founded the All India Harijan Sevak Sangh in 1932? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

Correct Answer: (b) M.K. Gandhi
Solution:After Poona Pact, 1932, Mahatma Gandhi was not actively involved in Civil Disobedience Movement but now he took an interest in anti-untouchability movements and "All India Anti-Untouchability League" was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 whose name was later changed to "Harijan Sevak Sangh." Ghanshyam Das Birla was the first President of this institution.

12. Who among the following was the first President of All India Anti-Untouchability League (later changed to Harijan Sevak Samaj)? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

Correct Answer: (b) G.D. Birla
Solution:After Poona Pact, 1932, Mahatma Gandhi was not actively involved in Civil Disobedience Movement but now he took an interest in anti-untouchability movements and "All India Anti-Untouchability League" was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 whose name was later changed to "Harijan Sevak Sangh." Ghanshyam Das Birla was the first President of this institution.

13. The first President of the All India Anti-Untouchability League formed in 1932, was: [U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]

Correct Answer: (c) G.D. Birla
Solution:After Poona Pact, 1932, Mahatma Gandhi was not actively involved in Civil Disobedience Movement but now he took an interest in anti-untouchability movements and "All India Anti-Untouchability League" was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 whose name was later changed to "Harijan Sevak Sangh." Ghanshyam Das Birla was the first President of this institution.

14. "Harijan Sewak Sangh" was organized by: [Uttarakhand U.D.A. / L.D.A. (Pre) 2007 Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

Correct Answer: (a) Mahatma Gandhi
Solution:Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi established All India Anti-Untouchability League in 1932. He published a weekly magazine "Harijan" in 1933. Gandhi named Ghanshyamdas Birla as first President of Harijan Sevak Sangh.

15. "All India Depressed Classes League" was established by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]

Correct Answer: (b) Babu Jagjiwan Ram
Solution:All India Depressed Classes League was founded by Babu Jagjivan Ram. All India Scheduled Caste Federation was founded by B.R. Ambedkar in 1942, while All India Depressed Classes Association was founded in 1926 by M.C. Rajah.

16. Who of the following said, "Mahatma Gandhi like fleeting phantom raises dust but not the level"? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

Correct Answer: (a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Solution:On 14 August, 1931, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said during a conversation with Gandhi in Mumbai "History tells that Mahatmas, like fleeting phantoms, raise dust but not levels." It was noticed that there was a conflict between Gandhi and Ambedkar on the matter of "situations of depressed classes."

Gandhiji began fast-unto-death on 20 September, 1932 against Communal Award of Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald. Poona Pact was signed between the followers of Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

17. consider the following statements: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]

Assertion (A): The Poona Pact defeated the purpose of Communal Award.

Reason (R): It paved the way for reservation of seats in the Parliament and the State Assemblies for the SC and ST people.

Select the correct answer from the code given below:

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:On 16 August, 1932, Ramsay Macdonald announced his Communal Award. The award authorised Indian Christians, Muslims, Europeans, Sikhs, depressed classes and others separate electorates. Gandhi began fast unto death on 20 September, 1932 to protest against this decision.

Finally, on 24 September, 1932 an agreement was made in Poona known as 'Poona Pact' in which joint electorate was accepted on the basis of two provisions. The two provisions were – Firstly, there were 148 seats reserved for depressed classes in the provincial legislature while only 71 seats were reserved according to communal award.

In Central Legislature, 18 percent of the seats allotted to the general electorate were reserved for Depressed classes in central legislature. So reason (R) explains Assertion (A) correctly, and both statements are true. So, the option (a) is correct answer.

18. Dr. Ambedkar and Gandhiji had a Pact called: [Uttarakhand U.D.A. / L.D.A. (Pre) 2007 Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]

Correct Answer: (c) Poona Pact
Solution:On 16 August, 1932, Ramsay Macdonald announced his Communal Award. The award authorised Indian Christians, Muslims, Europeans, Sikhs, depressed classes and others separate electorates. Gandhi began fast unto death on 20 September, 1932 to protest against this decision.

Finally, on 24 September, 1932 an agreement was made in Poona known as 'Poona Pact' in which joint electorate was accepted on the basis of two provisions. The two provisions were – Firstly, there were 148 seats reserved for depressed classes in the provincial legislature while only 71 seats were reserved according to communal award.

In Central Legislature, 18 percent of the seats allotted to the general electorate were reserved for Depressed classes in central legislature. So reason (R) explains Assertion (A) correctly, and both statements are true. So, the option (a) is correct answer.

19. Poona Pact was signed between: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004]

Correct Answer: (d) Gandhiji and Ambedkar
Solution:After "fast unto death" of Gandhiji against Communal Award, Poona Pact was signed on 24 September, 1932. This pact was signed between followers of Gandhiji and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Gandhi did not sign on this document.

20. Which among the following was implemented after announcement of "Communal Award" [U.P.U.D.A. / L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (d) Poona Pact
Solution:After "fast unto death" of Gandhiji against Communal Award, Poona Pact was signed on 24 September, 1932. This pact was signed between followers of Gandhiji and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Gandhi did not sign on this document.