Q11. Under Article 356, President’s Rule can be imposed in a state if the President, on receipt of a report from the Governor or otherwise, is satisfied that:
Emergency Provisions: RAS Prelims MCQs
70 RAS Prelims MCQs on the emergency provisions cover the three kinds of emergency, their grounds, parliamentary approval and duration, the effects on federalism and rights, and the amendments that changed them. The Emergencies of 1962, 1971 and 1975 and the 38th, 42nd and 44th Amendments are asked as facts and sequences.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 70 questions
Q12. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Years of Emergency | Context/Reason |
|---|---|
| A. 1962 | i. Indo-Pak War |
| B. 1971 | ii. Internal Disturbance |
| C. 1975 | iii. S.R. Bommai ruling on Article 356 |
| D. 1994 | iv. Chinese Aggression |
Explanation
India has seen multiple emergencies and landmark rulings. The 1962 emergency followed Chinese aggression. The 1971 emergency was declared due to the Indo-Pak war. The 1975 emergency was based on internal disturbance. In 1994, the S.R. Bommai case provided critical guidelines on Article 356, limiting the arbitrary dismissal of state governments by the Centre for political reasons.
Q13. Article 365 of the Indian Constitution provides that President’s Rule can be imposed in a State if:
Explanation
Article 365 states that if a State fails to follow or implement directions given by the Union, the President can deem it a failure of constitutional machinery. This allows the imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356. It serves as a mechanism to ensure that the states remain compliant with the lawful administrative and executive mandates of the government.
Q14. What is the maximum period for which President’s Rule under Article 356 can be extended continuously in a state (subject to specific conditions being met)?
Explanation
President’s Rule under Article 356 can be extended for a maximum of three years. Initially, it is approved for six months and can be renewed. However, extensions beyond one year are subject to specific conditions: a National Emergency must be in force, or the Election Commission must certify that holding state elections is difficult due to certain prevailing circumstances in the state.
Q15. To extend President’s Rule beyond one year, which of the following conditions must be satisfied as per the 44th Amendment?
I. A National Emergency must be in operation in the whole of India or in the whole or any part of the State.
II. The Election Commission must certify that general elections to the State Legislative Assembly cannot be held on account of difficulties.
III. The Supreme Court must give prior permission for the extension.
Which of the combinations given below is correct?
I. A National Emergency must be in operation in the whole of India or in the whole or any part of the State.
II. The Election Commission must certify that general elections to the State Legislative Assembly cannot be held on account of difficulties.
III. The Supreme Court must give prior permission for the extension.
Which of the combinations given below is correct?
Explanation
The Forty-fourth Amendment introduced restrictions on extending President’s Rule beyond one year. It can only be extended if a National Emergency is in operation or if the Election Commission certifies that assembly elections cannot be held. These conditions ensure that Article 356 is not used to indefinitely delay democratic processes in a state without a valid, verifiable reason for doing so.
Q16. Find the odd one out with respect to the grounds for imposing a National Emergency under Article 352.
Explanation
War, external aggression, and armed rebellion are the three specific grounds for declaring a National Emergency under Article 352. Failure of constitutional machinery is the ground for imposing President’s Rule in a state under Article 356. Distinguishing between these grounds is fundamental to understanding the different legal frameworks and powers invoked by the President during various types of national crises.
Q17. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Financial Emergency has never been declared in India.
Reason (R): The Indian economy is inherently immune to global financial crises and deficits. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Financial Emergency has never been declared in India.
Reason (R): The Indian economy is inherently immune to global financial crises and deficits. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Although India faced severe financial difficulties, especially during the 1991 balance of payments crisis, a Financial Emergency under Article 360 has never been declared. The economy is not immune to global shocks, but successive governments have used other policy measures to stabilize the situation. This shows that the provision is considered a last resort for extreme economic instability.
Q18. Which of the following principles was NOT laid down by the Supreme Court in the S.R. Bommai case (1994)?
Explanation
In the S.R. Bommai case, the Supreme Court ruled that the State Legislative Assembly should not be dissolved until Parliament approves the proclamation under Article 356. The assembly can only be suspended initially. This ensures that the executive does not take irreversible actions before legislative oversight. The court also emphasized that the proclamation is subject to judicial review for mala fides.
Q19. According to the S.R. Bommai case guidelines, what happens if the Parliament fails to approve the Presidential proclamation under Article 356?
Explanation
According to the S.R. Bommai case, if Parliament does not approve the proclamation of President’s Rule, the dismissed state government is revived.
Q20. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| A. Article 352 | i. Suspension of enforcement of Fundamental Rights |
| B. Article 356 | ii. Financial Emergency |
| C. Article 359 | iii. President’s Rule |
| D. Article 360 | iv. National Emergency |
Explanation
The Indian Constitution details specific articles for different emergency situations. Article 352 relates to National Emergency based on external or internal threats. Article 356 involves President’s Rule in states. Article 359 concerns the suspension of the enforcement of fundamental rights during emergencies. Article 360 provides for Financial Emergency. Understanding this mapping is essential for grasping the constitutional crisis management framework.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (a) The state government cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. |
| 12 | (c) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii |
| 13 | (d) The State fails to comply with or give effect to any directions from the Centre. |
| 14 | (c) Three years |
| 15 | (d) I and II only |
| 16 | (a) Failure of constitutional machinery |
| 17 | (c) A is true but R is false. |
| 18 | (a) The State Legislative Assembly can be dissolved by the President immediately upon the proclamation of Article 356. |
| 19 | (d) The dismissed state government gets revived and the suspended assembly gets reactivated. |
| 20 | (c) A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-ii |
Key facts from Emergency Provisions
- The emergency provisions exist to safeguard the sovereignty, unity, integrity and security of the country.
- Article 352 deals with National Emergency, Article 356 with President’s Rule (failure of constitutional machinery) and Article 360 with Financial Emergency.
- Article 355 makes it the Union’s duty to protect States, and it is the basis for Article 356.
- The 44th Amendment requires the President to act only on the written advice of the Cabinet before proclaiming an Emergency.
- The Emergencies of 1962, 1971 and 1975 were proclaimed by S. Radhakrishnan, V. V. Giri and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.
- The 38th, 42nd and 44th Amendments affected the Emergency provisions in that order; the Shah Commission inquired into the 1975 excesses.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Emergency Provisions?
This page has 70 practice MCQs on Emergency Provisions (Indian Polity and Governance). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which Article deals with President’s Rule?
Article 356, which applies when the government of a State cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution. Parliament must approve the proclamation within two months, and it can last up to three years in all.
What did the 44th Amendment change about Emergencies?
It required the President to act on the written advice of the Union Cabinet, replaced internal disturbance with armed rebellion as a ground and added safeguards, so that a Prime Minister could not impose an Emergency alone as in 1975.
Has a Financial Emergency ever been declared?
No. Article 360 provides for it, but none has been proclaimed, even in the economic crisis of 1991. In such an emergency the salaries of officials, including judges, could be reduced.