Question:

The Indian Contract Act, 1872, envisages that the acceptance must be absolute and unqualified to ________.

Show Hint

Any deviation in the terms of acceptance results in a counter-offer, which destroys the original offer.
Once a counter-offer is made, the original offer cannot be accepted unless revived by the proposer.
Updated On: Jul 7, 2026
  • Convert an offer into a counter offer.
  • Eliminate counter-party risk.
  • Convert a proposal into a promise.
  • Convert a holder into a holder-in-due-course.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks about the statutory requirement for acceptance to be "absolute and unqualified" and what legal transformation this achieves under the Act.

Step 2: Key Legal Principles and Approach:

The conditions for a valid acceptance are detailed in Section 7 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
Section 7(1) explicitly states the purpose of requiring an absolute and unqualified acceptance.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:


Statutory Wording: Section 7 of the Act states: "In order to convert a proposal into a promise, the acceptance must— (1) be absolute and unqualified..."

Mirror Image Rule: This reflects the common law "mirror image rule", which dictates that the acceptance must match the proposal exactly without any additions, omissions, or modifications.

Effect of Variations: If the accepting party adds any conditions, changes the price, or alters terms, it is not an absolute and unqualified acceptance.

• Instead, it is treated as a counter-proposal (counter-offer), which rejects the original proposal.

Result of Valid Acceptance: Only when the acceptance is completely absolute and unqualified does it succeed in converting the open proposal into a binding "promise" (Section 2(b)).

• Therefore, Option (C) is the precise statutory consequence.

Step 4: Final Answer:

To convert a proposal into a promise, the acceptance must be absolute and unqualified, making Option (C) the correct answer.
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