Indian Polity & Governance·Amendments

Communal Award and Poona Pact — Amendments

Updated 8 Mar 2026
AmendmentYearDescriptionImpact
N/A (Political Agreement)1932The Poona Pact, while not a formal constitutional amendment in the modern sense, acted as a de facto amendment or supersession of the Communal Award's provisions concerning the Depressed Classes. It politically and legally altered the electoral scheme for this community that had been unilaterally imposed by the British government.It replaced separate electorates with reserved seats in joint electorates for the Depressed Classes, significantly increasing their representation. This agreement was subsequently incorporated into the Government of India Act 1935, thus having a direct constitutional impact on British India's administrative framework and setting a precedent for future reservation policies in independent India.