The August Offer 1940 MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for The August Offer 1940 - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is option (2) i.e. August Offer.

• It was a proposal drafted by Viceroy Linlithgow in 1940 in the proposal he has promised to expand the executive council of the Viceroy of India.
• He has promised to include more Indians in his council and said that the council will also give importance to the minority opinion.
• He in return demanded that all the communities should support Britain in World War II.
• Congress did not trust their intentions but Muslim league did.
• After the August Offer Gandhi Ji insisted on Individual Satyagrah.

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. The correct chronological order is: 4, 3, 1, 2

Key Points

• Resignation letters of Congress Ministers (October 1939):
  • The Congress Ministers resigned in October 1939 as a response to the decision of the British government to involve India in World War II without consulting Indian leaders. This was the first event.
• Ramgarh Congress Session (March 1940):
  • The Ramgarh Congress Session took place in March 1940, where Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was elected the president of the Indian National Congress, and the party passed a resolution emphasizing full independence from British rule.
• Linlithgow August Offer (August 1940):
  • The Linlithgow August Offer was made by Lord Linlithgow, the Viceroy of India, in August 1940.
  • It was an attempt by the British government to offer limited constitutional reforms in response to demands for Indian self-rule.
• Cripps Mission arrival in India (March 1942):
  • The Cripps Mission arrived in India in March 1942 with a proposal to gain Indian support for the war effort by offering a promise of post-war self-government.
  • However, it failed to gain acceptance from Indian leaders.

• Hence, 4, 3, 1, 2 is the correct chronological order.

The correct answer is August Offer.

Key Points

• August Offer:
  • In 1934, M.N. Roy was the first one to put forward the demand for a Constituent Assembly. 
  • In 1935, the Indian National Congress (INC), for the first time, officially demanded a Constituent Assembly.
  • In the ‘August Offer’ of 1940, the British Government finally accepted the demand in principle but with the condition that the constitution-making will not be the sole responsibility of the Indians. 
  • In 1942, Sir Stafford Cripps, a Member of the Cabinet, came to India with a draft proposal of the British Government on the framing of an independent Constitution to be adopted after World War II. 
  • The Cripps proposal for the first time accepted the principle that the constitution-making would solely be the responsibility of Indians only. Hence, statement 4 is correct.
  • But Cripps Proposals were rejected by INC as it still only supported a dominion status. Gandhi described it as 'a Post-dated cheque on a crumbling bank'

Additional Information

The Correct answer is In 1939 when the Congress ministries in the provinces resigned.

Key Points

• The "Day of Deliverance" was a celebration day marked by the All-India Muslim League and others on 22 December 1939 during the Indian independence movement.
• It was led by Muslim League president Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and intended to rejoice the resignation of all members of the rival Congress party from provincial and central offices in protest over their not having been consulted over the decision to enter World War II alongside Britain.

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• Day of Deliverance Muslim League's observance of December 22, 1939 as a mark of relief on the resignation of all provincial Congress Ministries of British India. After the 1937 elections, Congress ministries were formed in seven provinces of British India.

• However, the muslim league could form ministry in only one, Bengal, and that was also in the form of a grand coalition headed by the krishak praja party leader ak fazlul huq.

• Under the leadership of mohammed ali jinnah, the Muslim League adopted manifold strategies from 1938 to mobilize the Muslims behind him. One such strategy was to expose to Muslim public opinion the actual and imagined discriminations of Congress Ministries against Muslims.

• It was in pursuance of this policy that Jinnah called upon Indian Muslims to observe on 22 December 1939 as a 'Day of Deliverance and Thanksgiving' and a sign of relief from 'Congress oppression'.

• Earlier in October, all Congress Ministries had resigned in protest at the inadequacy of the dominion status which the British wanted to grant India after the end of the Second World War.

The correct answer is the August offer.

• The August offer was announced in 1940 by Viceroy Lord Linlithgow to gain the support of Indians in World War II.

Key PointsBackground:

• The Indian National Congress (INC) leaders were upset with the British government for having pulled India into a war without the consent of Indians.
• Lord Linlithgow had declared India to be at war with Germany without consultation.
• The British government was keen to get Indian support for the war. 
• Then, the Viceroy Linlithgow made a set of proposals called the ‘August offer’.

Additional InformationThe terms of the August Offer:

• A representative Indian body would be framed to frame a constitution for India.
• Dominion status was the objective for India.
• The Viceroy also stated that there would be no revision of the Government of India Act.

The Correct Answer is Lord Linlithgow.

Important Points

• The Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, issued a statement from Simla on 8 August 1940 known as the August Offer.
• It was an attempt to secure the cooperation of the Indians in WW II.
• Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of England at the time. Some of the provisions of the August Offer were:
• Dominion status as the objective for India.
• The number of Indians in the Viceroy’s Executive council will be increased.
• A representative “Constitution Making Body” shall be appointed immediately after the war.

Key Points

• When the Congress ministries in the Provinces resigned, the British arose and wanted to get the support of the Congress for war.
• In March 1940, Congress met at Ramgarh in Bihar in its annual session.
• The Congress passed a resolution offering the British Government support in war if a provisional National Government is set up at the Centre.
• This was responded by Lord Linlithgow in the sort of a proposal which is called August Offer.
• The august Offer turned down the demand of the Congress to set up a national Government at the center but proposed the following:
• After the war, a representative “Constitution Making Body” shall be appointed immediately after the war.
• The number of Indians in the Viceroy’s Executive council will be increased.
• A war Advisory Council would be set up.
• Congress did not approve the August Offer.
• Jawahar Lal Nehru said that the whole idea was “as dead as a doornail”.
• The Muslim League said that it will not be satisfied with anything short of the partition of India. 

Additional Information

• Lord Linlithgow was Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1944 and this eight years period was the longest reign as Viceroy of India.
• During this period, parts of the Government of India Act 1935 came into force in 1937.
• Other events included – Resignation of Congress Ministries to protest the involvement of Indians in world war-II; Start of World War-II (1939), the resignation of Subhash Chandra Bose and foundation of “Forward Block”; Escape of SC Bose from India, Jinnah’s two nations theory; Atlanta Charter; August Offer (1940); Foundation of Indian National Army; Cripps Mission (1942); Launch of Quit India Movement; Demand of divide and quit; Bengal Famine of 1943).

The correct answer is The August Movement.

Key Points

• Quit India Movement or 'Bharat Chodo Andolan', also known as August Kranti Movement, was a call given by Mahatma Gandhi at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee on August 8, 1942, for an end to the British rule in India.
  • It was officially launched on 8 August 1942 by the Indian National Congress (INC) under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
  • The movement gave the slogans ‘Quit India’ or ‘Bharat Chodo’. Gandhi gave the slogan to the people – ‘Do or die’.
  • In line with the ideology of the Congress, it was supposed to be a peaceful non-violent movement aimed at urging the British to grant independence to India.
  • Quit India resolution was passed by the Congress Working Committee in Bombay on 8 August 1942. Gandhi was named the leader of the movement.

Additional Information

• List of Indian National Movement 1885 to 1947
  • Indian National Congress Founded- 28 December 1885 
  • Swadeshi and Boycott Resolution- 1905
  • Muslim League Founded- 1906
  • Home Rule Movement - April 1916
  • Champaran Satyagraha - 1917
  • Kheda Satyagraha - 1918
  • Ahmedabad Mill Strike - 1918
  • Rowlatt Act Satyagraha - February 1919
  • Non-Cooperation Movement - 1920
  • Civil Disobedience movement - 1930
  • Quit India Movement - 1942 

The correct answer is 2 i.e. August Offer.

Individual Satyagraha:

• Individual Satyagraha was a direct result of August Offer.
• August's offer was brought during a significant period of war by the British in 1940. Both Congress and the Muslim League rejected August Offer.
• Congress wished to launch the Civil disobedience Movement, but Gandhi saw the environment against such a movement, he didn’t want to thwart the war efforts.
• However, Congress Socialist leaders and All India Kisan Sabha were in favour of direct struggle.
• Gandhi was assured that the British would not modify their policy towards India. He decided to launch an Individual Satyagraha.
• Vinobha Bhave was first and Nehru was second to offer Satyagraha, by May 1941, 25000, people had been condemned for Satyagraha.
• Though the aim of Satyagraha was limited, it was successful in displaying unity and patience in the masses of India.
• This Satyagraha forced to usher in the Cripps Proposal which was very different from August's offer as it provided a way for Constituent Assembly and an option to any Province to withdraw – “a blueprint for India’s partition”.

Aim of the movement:

• To show that nationalist patience was not due to weakness.
• To express people’s feelings that they are not interested in the war and that they are not interested in the battle for supremacy between Nazism and double autocracy that ruled in India.
• To give another chance to the Government to accept Congress' demands peacefully.
• The demand of the Satyagrahi was using freedom of speech against the war through an anti-war declaration.
• If the government did not seize the Satyagrahi, he or she would keep repeating it in the villages and start a march towards Delhi (“Delhi Chalo Movement”).

The correct answer is the August offer.

• The August offer was announced in 1940 by Viceroy Lord Linlithgow to gain the support of Indians in World War II.

Key PointsBackground:

• The Indian National Congress (INC) leaders were upset with the British government for having pulled India into a war without the consent of Indians.
• Lord Linlithgow had declared India to be at war with Germany without consultation.
• The British government was keen to get Indian support for the war. 
• Then, the Viceroy Linlithgow made a set of proposals called the ‘August offer’.

Additional InformationThe terms of the August Offer:

• A representative Indian body would be framed to frame a constitution for India.
• Dominion status was the objective for India.
• The Viceroy also stated that there would be no revision of the Government of India Act.

The Correct Answer is Option 2 i.e August Offer was issued by Lord Linlithgow.

• August Offer:
  • On 8th August 1940, Lord Linlithgow suggested some measures to get the support of the INC and Muslim League for World War II that is known as August Offer or Linlithgow's offer.
  • Some of the provisions were:
    • Immediate expansion of the Viceroy Executive Council by including more number of Indians.
    • A war advisory council
    • Constitution-making body after the war.
    • All the constitutional agreements in India must take the consensus of the minority community (veto power to the Muslim League).
  • Congress rejected the August Offer as it demanded the complete freedom from colonial rule.

The correct answer is option 5.

Key Points

• On August 11, 1942, Lord Linlithgow, the then Viceroy of India, ordered the British military to open fire on a mob in Patna and its surrounding areas during the August Revolution of 1942.
• On 11th August 1942, a procession of resolute students reached the eastern gate of the Secretariat Office in Patna to raise the national flag at the building.
• However, police fired at the procession unscrupulously in an effort to quell the demonstration. Seven students were killed and several injuries were reported.
• The young martyrs who lost their lives were -Umakant Prasad Sinha, Ramanand Singh, Satish Prasad Jha, Jagpati Kumar, Devi Pado Chaudhury, Rajendra Singh and Ramgovind Singh.
• In the aftermath of this barbarous incident, a widespread curfew was imposed on the district and various repressive measures were undertaken.

The Correct Answer is Option 3 i.e. The Congress approved the August Offer. 

August Offer

• Viceroy Linlithgow announced the August Offer (August 1940) which proposed- dominion status, expansion of viceroy’s executive council which would have a majority of Indians, setting up of a constituent assembly after the war where mainly Indians would decide the constitution, and no future constitution to be adopted without the consent of minorities.
• It was opposed by both Congress and Muslim League.
• When the Congress ministries in the Provinces resigned, the British arose and wanted to get support of the Congress for war.
• In March 1940, Congress met at Ramgarh in Bihar in its annual session.
• He Congress passed a resolution offering the British Government support in war, if a provisional National Government is setup at Centre.
• This was responded by Lord Linlithgow in the sort of a proposal which is called August Offer.
• The August Offer turned down the demand of the Congress to set up a national Government at the center but proposed the following:
  • After the war, a representative “Constitution Making Body” shall be appointed immediately after the war.
  • The number of the Indians in the Viceroy’s Executive council will be increased.
  • A war advisory Council would be set up.
  • The Congress did not approve the August Offer.
  • Jawahar Lal Nehru said that the whole idea was “dead and door nail”.
  • The Muslim League said that it will not be satisfied with anything short of partition of India.

The correct answer is Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Key Points 

• The August offer was a proposal by the British government offering dominion status and freedom to frame a constitution based on representative nature.
• The August offer was declared on 8^th August 1940.
• It expanded the members of the Governor's General council from 8 to 12.
• It accepted that framing of a new constitution would be the responsibility of Indians.
• The August offer also aimed at bringing the congress into the ongoing world war.
• The August offer was rejected by the then INC President Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.
• Congress refused to accept the offer and demanded immediate self-government.
• Gandhiji launched individual satyagraha due to the dissatisfaction with the August offer.

Additional Information 

• Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad was the longest-serving president of INC before independence.
• J B Kripalani was the president of INC at the time of independence.
• Pattabhi Sitaramayya was the first president of INC after independence.

The correct answer is option (2) i.e. August Offer.

• It was a proposal drafted by Viceroy Linlithgow in 1940 in the proposal he has promised to expand the executive council of the Viceroy of India.
• He has promised to include more Indians in his council and said that the council will also give importance to the minority opinion.
• He in return demanded that all the communities should support Britain in World War II.
• Congress did not trust their intentions but Muslim league did.
• After the August Offer Gandhi Ji insisted on Individual Satyagrah.

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. The correct chronological order is: 4, 3, 1, 2

Key Points

• Resignation letters of Congress Ministers (October 1939):
  • The Congress Ministers resigned in October 1939 as a response to the decision of the British government to involve India in World War II without consulting Indian leaders. This was the first event.
• Ramgarh Congress Session (March 1940):
  • The Ramgarh Congress Session took place in March 1940, where Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was elected the president of the Indian National Congress, and the party passed a resolution emphasizing full independence from British rule.
• Linlithgow August Offer (August 1940):
  • The Linlithgow August Offer was made by Lord Linlithgow, the Viceroy of India, in August 1940.
  • It was an attempt by the British government to offer limited constitutional reforms in response to demands for Indian self-rule.
• Cripps Mission arrival in India (March 1942):
  • The Cripps Mission arrived in India in March 1942 with a proposal to gain Indian support for the war effort by offering a promise of post-war self-government.
  • However, it failed to gain acceptance from Indian leaders.

• Hence, 4, 3, 1, 2 is the correct chronological order.