Question

As per “August offer 1940” the constitution of India would be drawn by _________.
a)House of Commons
b)House of Lords
c)Princely States
d)Indians

Answer 1

HINT: Viceroy Alexander Linlithgow, was the longest serving Viceroy of India. After the second World War broke out, he dismissed the supplication by the Congress for granting India to determine its own beneficial future.

Step by step answer:
Option A- House of Commons, gained its name because it represented communities. In British India; Dadabhai Naroji was the first Indian to become a part of this house. This is not a correct option.
Option B- House of Lords, is also referred as the House of Peers. This is an incorrect option.
Option C- Princely States, existed before the Partition of India in 1947. They are also called
Native states who enjoyed indirect rule as they were not completely under British. This is not a correct option.
Option D-Historically drawing, In the late 1939 world war 2 broke out, Britain pulled India into a war without consulting Indian Political force. The Indian National Congress retorted the idea of India’s cooperation in the war. The British Government were keen on receiving Indian support, they put into action a ‘ give and take’ strategy wherein the Indian National Congress softened its stand and British made a set of proposals called “August Offer”.
In 1940, Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow on 8 August promised that a constituent Assembly would be set up after the war which would determine India’s constitutional future and this came to be referred as “ August offer”. The offer also stated that the number of Indians will be increased in the Viceroy’s Executive Council and an advisory war council would be established.
The Indian’s felt that British were not serious about political and constitutional reforms and rejected the offer whereas, Muslim League considered the offer as ‘ progress’ but rejected it claiming that nothing less of partitioning the country would be acceptable to them.

NOTE: The ‘August offer’ failed to pick up a momentum and was aborted in December 1940. Later on ‘ the Cripps Mission’ was sent to India to garner support for Indians.