[short_answer] What were the main terms of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931, and what did Mahatma Gandhi hope to achieve by signing it?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:37 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) — Main Terms:
- Gandhiji agreed to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Gandhiji consented to participate in the Round Table Conference in London (which the Congress had boycotted earlier).
- The government agreed to release political prisoners.
What Gandhi hoped to achieve:
By signing the pact, Gandhi hoped to negotiate Indian demands at the Round Table Conference in London and secure meaningful political concessions for India. However, the negotiations broke down and he returned disappointed.
Source: Chapter 2, Section 3.1 — The Salt March and the Civil Disobedience Movement
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Explanation
- The question is directly answered in the passage: "By this Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Gandhiji consented to participate in a Round Table Conference… and the government agreed to release the political prisoners."
- Examiners expect two parts: the terms AND Gandhi's motive/hope — cover both for full marks.
- Avoid padding with Salt March details; stay focused on the pact itself.
- Note the outcome (negotiations broke down) — briefly mentioning it shows complete understanding of the event.