The Poona Pact was an agreement signed on September 24th, 1932, between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar on behalf of the depressed class for the reservation of electoral seats for them. The agreement was signed in the Yerwada Central Jail, Poona, and was a result of the Communal Award of August 4, 1932, which proposed to allot seats in the various legislatures of India to different communities to resolve tensions between communal interests. The main features of the Poona Pact are:

• Reservation of Seats: The Poona Pact granted increased government representation to low-caste Hindu groups, then often labeled "untouchables" or Dalits. The agreement resulted in the reservation of electoral seats for the depressed class.

• Joint Electorate: The depressed class candidates were elected by a joint electorate, and about twice as many seats were reserved for the depressed classes as compared to the Communal Award.

• Educational Facilities: An adequate sum was earmarked for providing educational facilities to the members of the depressed classes in every province out of the educational grant.

The Poona Pact evoked strong reactions from different circles, and even the demand was raised for its revision both from a section of the depressed classes and the Hindus as well. The reactions were particularly sharp in the provinces of Punjab and Bengal where Hindus constituted a significant percentage of the population.