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Civil Disobedience and Poona Pact | ISC Class 11 History

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HistoryISC Class 11 · Gandhian Nationalism 1927-1937

Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact (ISC Class 11 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Civil Disobedience began with Gandhi's Dandi March (12 March to 6 April 1930) and salt law breaking; the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931) suspended it, the Second Round Table Conference deadlocked, the movement resumed in 1932, and the Poona Pact (24 September 1932) between Gandhi and Ambedkar replaced separate electorates for depressed classes with reserved seats.

Follow the timeline: the pact paused the movement, talks deadlocked, protest resumed, and the Poona Pact gave reserved seats instead of separate electorates.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact

Launch. On 31 January 1930 Gandhi sent the Viceroy eleven demands including abolition of the salt tax; they were ignored. From 12 March 1930 he walked with 78 followers from Sabarmati to Dandi (about 385 km) and broke the salt law on 6 April 1930. Salt was chosen because everyone used it, the tax hurt all, and breaking the law was simple and non-violent.

Features. Salt laws broken across India (Rajagopalachari at Vedaranyam; Sarojini Naidu's volunteers at Dharasana, May 1930, beaten); boycott of foreign cloth and liquor shop picketing; no-tax campaigns and forest laws broken; large participation by women; the Frontier's Khudai Khidmatgars under Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and the refusal of Garhwal Rifles soldiers to fire at Peshawar in April 1930; Rani Gaidinliu's Naga rising; repression and Gandhi's arrest in May 1930. Unlike Non-Cooperation it called for breaking laws and aimed at complete independence.

First Round Table Conference (November 1930 - January 1931). The Congress boycotted it; princes, the Muslim League, Liberals and Ambedkar attended; it accepted an all-India federation in principle.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931). Congress to discontinue civil disobedience and attend the Second Round Table Conference; withdrawal of ordinances and related prosecutions; release of political prisoners not convicted of violence; return of unsold confiscated property; coastal villagers may make salt for their own use; peaceful picketing allowed. Not granted: an inquiry into police excesses and commutation of Bhagat Singh's sentence (he was executed on 23 March 1931). The Karachi Congress endorsed the pact.

Second Round Table Conference (September-December 1931). Gandhi attended as the sole Congress representative; deadlock over minorities and separate electorates; he returned empty-handed.

Resumption. Under Lord Willingdon the Congress was banned and Gandhi arrested in January 1932; mass disobedience was suspended in 1933 and withdrawn in 1934; Harijan Sevak Sangh founded in 1932.

Communal Award and Poona Pact. Ramsay MacDonald's Award (August 1932) gave separate electorates to Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and the depressed classes. Gandhi began a fast unto death at Yeravda on 20 September 1932. The Poona Pact (24 September 1932) with Ambedkar dropped separate electorates for the depressed classes; reserved provincial seats rose to 148 (the Award had 71); 18 per cent of central general seats were reserved; a primary election chose a panel for each seat. It ended the fast and kept the depressed classes in the general electorate, though Ambedkar accepted it under pressure.

Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact: key facts

Dandi
  • 31 January 1930: eleven demands
  • 12 March 1930: march begins
  • About 385 km
  • 78 followers
  • 6 April 1930: salt law broken
Pact and conferences
  • First RTC November 1930-January 1931
  • Gandhi-Irwin Pact 5 March 1931
  • Second RTC September-December 1931
Poona Pact
  • Communal Award August 1932
  • Fast from 20 September
  • Pact 24 September 1932
Poona Pact seats
  • Provincial reserved seats: 71 to 148
  • Central: 18 per cent of general seats
  • Primary panel election

How to answer Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact questions

Expect 4-mark features, pact terms, or an 8-mark treatment of the Poona Pact and its significance.

  1. 1Give the launch date and features of the movement.
  2. 2State the pact terms in five points.
  3. 3Explain the failure of the second conference.
  4. 4For Poona, describe the Award, the fast and the compromise.

Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Reserved seats

Suppose a legislature had 71 reserved seats under an award and a pact raised them to 148.

Find the increase and the percentage increase (to one decimal).

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Increase = 148 - 71 = 77 seats.
  2. Percentage = 77/71 x 100 = 108.5 per cent.

Answer: 77 seats; about 108.5 per cent.

Memory hook: New minus old over old.

The salt march pace

Suppose the march from 12 March to 6 April covers 385 km.

Find the days from 12 March to 6 April and the average per day.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 12 March to 6 April: 19 days left in March + 6 = 25 days.
  2. 385/25 = 15.4 km a day on average.

Answer: 25 days; 15.4 km a day.

Memory hook: Distance over days.

Tricks to remember Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • 78, 385, 6 April

    78 marchers, 385 km, salt broken on 6 April.

    Use it when: Dandi.

  • 5 March, 24 September

    Gandhi-Irwin, Poona Pact.

    Use it when: Dates.

Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Pact date · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on:
(a) 5 March 1931
(b) 6 April 1930
(c) 24 September 1932
(d) 12 March 1930

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 1931.

Answer: (a) 5 March 1931.

Example 2: Why salt · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Give two reasons why Gandhi chose the salt tax for his campaign.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Everyone used salt, so the tax hurt rich and poor.
  2. Breaking the law was simple and non-violent.
  3. It could be done anywhere along the coast.

Answer: It was used by all, and breaking the law was simple and non-violent.

Example 3: Pact terms · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

State the main terms of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and two things it did not grant.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The Congress discontinued civil disobedience and attended the Second Round Table Conference.
  2. Ordinances and prosecutions withdrawn; non-violent prisoners released.
  3. Coastal villagers could make salt; peaceful picketing allowed.
  4. Not granted: inquiry into police excesses and commutation of Bhagat Singh's sentence.

Answer: Suspension for conference and concessions on prisoners and salt; no police inquiry or reprieve for Bhagat Singh.

Example 4: Poona Pact · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain the circumstances and terms of the Poona Pact.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The Communal Award of August 1932 gave separate electorates to the depressed classes.
  2. Gandhi began a fast unto death on 20 September 1932 against it.
  3. The Pact (24 September) with Ambedkar gave up separate electorates and used joint electorates.
  4. Provincial reserved seats rose from 71 to 148 and 18 per cent of central general seats were reserved.

Answer: The Award and fast led to a pact: joint electorates with 148 reserved provincial seats and 18 per cent of central seats.

Example 5: Evaluate the pact · 5 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Case: Two historians differ on the Poona Pact. (a) Give one point in its favour. (b) Give one criticism. (c) Compute how many more provincial seats were reserved than in the Award and the percentage rise.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) It ended the fast, kept the depressed classes within the general electorate and put abolition of untouchability on the national agenda.
  2. (b) Ambedkar accepted it under pressure and remained critical.
  3. (c) 148 - 71 = 77 seats; 77/71 x 100 = 108.5 per cent.

Answer: (a) Ended the fast and kept unity (b) accepted under pressure (c) 77 seats; about 108.5 per cent.

Where students lose marks in Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Dating Dandi to 1931

    Years are mixed.

    Do this: Dandi March: 12 March to 6 April 1930.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Saying the Pact met all demands

    Limits ignored.

    Do this: Add the unmet demands about police inquiry and Bhagat Singh.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Confusing Award and Pact

    Documents swapped.

    Do this: Communal Award by MacDonald; Poona Pact by Gandhi and Ambedkar.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • List Dandi facts: 78, 385 km, 6 April.
  • Write the pact terms as five points.
  • Use numbers 71, 148 and 18 per cent exactly.
  • Be neutral in describing Ambedkar and Gandhi.

Practice questions on Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The Garhwal Rifles refused to fire on a crowd at:
    (a) Dharasana
    (b) Peshawar
    (c) Vedaranyam
    (d) Dandi

    Hint

    April 1930.

    Answer

    (b) Peshawar.

  2. Q2 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Describe the part played by women and the North-West Frontier in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

    Hint

    Marching, picketing, Red Shirts.

    Answer

    Women marched, picketed and went to jail in large numbers; on the Frontier the Khudai Khidmatgars led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan joined, and at Peshawar Garhwal Rifles soldiers refused to fire on a crowd.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Why did the Second Round Table Conference fail?

    Hint

    Minorities deadlock.

    Answer

    It deadlocked over minorities: Muslims, Sikhs and the depressed classes demanded separate electorates, Gandhi opposed them for the depressed classes and claimed the Congress spoke for all Indians; he returned empty-handed.

  4. Q4 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Find the time between the start of the Dandi March (12 March 1930) and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931) in months and days.

    Hint

    Count months.

    Answer

    12 March 1930 to 5 March 1931 is 11 months and 21 days, just under one year.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency

    Assertion (A): Gandhi opposed separate electorates for the depressed classes.
    Reason (R): He believed it would permanently divide Hindu society.
    (a) Both true and R explains A
    (b) Both true but R does not explain A
    (c) A true, R false
    (d) A false, R true

    Hint

    Fast unto death.

    Answer

    (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Fast began at?Show answer

    Yeravda jail, 20 September 1932.

  2. 2.Seats under Poona Pact?Show answer

    148 provincial.

  3. 3.Salt works attacked in May 1930?Show answer

    Dharasana.

  4. 4.Who led the Red Shirts?Show answer

    Abdul Ghaffar Khan.

  5. 5.Second RTC attendee?Show answer

    Gandhi alone for Congress.

Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences and the Poona Pact: frequently asked questions

Why did Congress boycott the first conference?

Because civil disobedience was on.

Was Bhagat Singh spared?

No, executed on 23 March 1931.

Which Act followed?

The Government of India Act, 1935.