Statement 1 ; Mahatma Gandhi went on a fast unto death against the Communal Award announced by the British Government. Statement I : The Poona Pact resulted in a joint electorate with an enhanced number of seats reserved for Depressed Classes.

Statement I is true as Mahatma Gandhi began a fast unto death in September 1932 while in Yeravada prison to protest the Communal Award [3]. He specifically opposed the provision of separate electorates for the Depressed Classes, fearing it would permanently divide Hindu society [4]. Statement II is also true; the resulting Poona Pact (1932) abandoned separate electorates in favor of a joint electorate with the general Hindu population [2]. Crucially, it significantly increased the number of reserved seats for the Depressed Classes—from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and 18% in the Central Legislature [2]. Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I because the Poona Pact was the direct diplomatic resolution that allowed Gandhi to break his fast, as it replaced the contested separate electorates with the compromise of enhanced reserved seats within a joint electorate [1].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Ideological Differences and Similarities between Gandhi and Ambedkar > p. 400
2. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > 17. Lord Willingdon 1931-1936 > p. 822
3. [4] India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > Discuss > p. 44
4. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Poona Pact > p. 392