Question

On which of the following dates, the President of India, using his powers, declared by proclamation that a grave emergency existed where the security of India was threatened by internal disturbance?
1. 26 October, 1962
2. 3 December, 1971
3. 25 June, 1975
4. 26 June, 1975

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : 25 June, 1975

The correct answer is 25 June 1975.

• On 25 June 1975 the President of India, using his powers, declared by proclamation that a grave emergency existed where the security of India was threatened by internal disturbance.

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• On the recommendations of Indira Gandhi’s government declared a state of emergency in India on 25 June 1975.
• Democracy was restored only after nearly two years on 21st March 1977. 
• The then-President of the country Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared a state of internal emergency in India using Article 352.
• The national emergency was being declared in India for the third time.
• The first two times were during the wars with China and Pakistan in 1962 and 1971 respectively.

• The President can declare 3 types of emergencies:
  • National emergency (Article 352)
  • State emergency (Article 356)
  • Financial emergency (Article 360)
• National emergency (Article 352):
  • It can be declared on the basis of:
    • External aggression/armed rebellion in the whole of India/part of its territory.
• Approval:
  • ​It needs to be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within a month by special majority.
• Duration 
  • It can be extended for up to 6 months further indefinitely by resolutions in 6-months increments.
• Effects 
  • Effect- Many Fundamental Rights of Indian citizens can be suspended.
  • The federal system of governance becomes unitary.