The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was a landmark agreement signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India. Negotiations for the pact commenced in early 1931 against the backdrop of widespread civil disobedience following the Salt March, which Gandhi had initiated the previous year. The Salt March, a 240-mile protest against the British salt tax, garnered immense national and international attention, highlighting India's struggle for self-rule. Gandhi's arrest and the subsequent crackdown by British authorities intensified public unrest, leading to the urgent need for dialogue to pacify the situation.

The pact included critical provisions such as the agreement to release all political prisoners not involved in violence, the suspension of the civil disobedience movement, and the right for Indians to produce salt for personal use. This represented a significant concession from the British authorities, as it hinted at a more lenient stance towards Indian political aspirations. While Gandhi viewed the agreement as a pathway to further political negotiations and eventual self-governance, Lord Irwin sought to regain control over a fractious situation in India.

The signing took place at the Viceroy's House in New Delhi, where both leaders aimed to create a framework for future negotiations regarding India's constitutional development. While the pact was met with mixed reactions from various political factions in India, it established a precedent for dialogue between Indian leaders and the British government. This process would lead to subsequent negotiations and eventually shaping India's trajectory towards independence.