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 31–40 of 70 questions
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q31. Consider the following statements about the effects of Article 352 on Fundamental Rights: I. Article 358 automatically suspends the six fundamental rights under Article 19. II. Article 358 operates only in the case of external emergency, not internal emergency. III. Article 359 empowers the President to suspend the right to move any court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights. IV. The suspension under Article 359 can apply to the entire country or a part of it. V. The President can suspend the right to enforcement of Article 21 under Article 359. Which of the combinations given below correctly identifies the TRUE statements?
Explanation
Article 358 automatically suspends Article 19 during external emergencies. Article 359 allows the President to suspend the enforcement of other rights by a specific order, which can apply nationwide or locally. While Article 359 previously allowed the suspension of all rights, the Forty-fourth Amendment barred the suspension of the rights to life and liberty under Articles 20 and 21.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q32. Consider the following features regarding Financial Emergency: I. It requires approval by both houses of Parliament within two months. II. Once approved, it continues indefinitely till it is revoked. III. It must be re-approved by Parliament every six months. Which of the combinations given below is correct?
Explanation
A Financial Emergency must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within two months of its proclamation. Once approved, it continues indefinitely until revoked by the President. Unlike a National Emergency, it does not require periodic parliamentary approval every six months. This makes the Financial Emergency unique in its duration and the process required for its continued operation after approval.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q33. The most appropriate reason why a Financial Emergency has never been imposed in India, even during the severe 1991 economic crisis, is:
Explanation
During the 1991 economic crisis, India faced a severe foreign exchange shortage. Instead of declaring a Financial Emergency, the government opted for macroeconomic stabilization and structural reforms, including liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation. These alternative measures, supported by international institutions, successfully addressed the crisis without needing to invoke the drastic constitutional powers provided under Article 360 of the Indian Constitution.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q34. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): The President of India cannot suspend the right to move a court for the enforcement of the right to life and personal liberty during a National Emergency. Reason (R): The 44th Amendment Act made the rights under Articles 20 and 21 immune from suspension during an emergency. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
The Forty-fourth Amendment Act ensures that the right to move a court for enforcing Articles 20 and 21 cannot be suspended during an emergency.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q35. What happens to laws made by the Parliament on state subjects during a National Emergency once the emergency ceases to operate?
Explanation
During a National Emergency, Parliament can make laws on subjects in the State List. These laws do not become permanent. According to Article 250, such laws cease to have effect six months after the emergency proclamation has expired. This provision ensures that the legislative autonomy of the states is restored once the abnormal situation justifying the central intervention has ended.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q36. Consider the following statements regarding the majority required for passing emergency resolutions in Parliament: I. Proclamation of National Emergency requires a simple majority. II. Proclamation of President’s Rule requires a simple majority. III. Proclamation of Financial Emergency requires a special majority. Which of the combinations given below correctly identifies the INCORRECT statements?
Explanation
A National Emergency proclamation must be approved by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament. In contrast, both President’s Rule and Financial Emergency only require a simple majority for their approval. These different thresholds reflect the varying degrees of impact each emergency has on the constitutional structure and the fundamental rights of citizens within the Republic of India.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q37. During the 1975 internal emergency, a mass political movement was led by which prominent leader, demanding "Total Revolution"?
Explanation
Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, led the "Total Revolution" movement against the government of Indira Gandhi. This mass political movement, which gained momentum in the mid-1970s, focused on corruption and democratic values. It was a major factor leading to the declaration of the internal emergency in 1975 and the subsequent political changes in the country after its revocation.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q38. What is the effect of Article 352 on the legislative powers of a State?
Explanation
During a National Emergency, the State Legislature is not suspended or dissolved. It continues to exist and function. However, the Parliament gains concurrent power to make laws on any subject mentioned in the State List. This means that central laws will prevail over state laws if there is any inconsistency, effectively giving the Union overarching legislative authority during the crisis.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q39. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): The Bommai case judgment limited the arbitrary use of Article 356 by the Central Government. Reason (R): The Supreme Court held that the subjective satisfaction of the President in invoking Article 356 is entirely beyond judicial review. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
The S.R. Bommai case was a landmark judgment that brought the President’s power under Article 356 within the ambit of judicial review. The Supreme Court held that the satisfaction of the President must be based on relevant material and is not absolute. This decision significantly limited the Centre’s ability to dismiss state governments for purely political reasons, strengthening federalism.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q40. Select the correct sequence of parliamentary steps required for the continuation of a National Emergency under Article 352.
Explanation
To continue a National Emergency, it must first be approved by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament within one month of its proclamation. Following this initial approval, the emergency must be renewed every six months by another special majority resolution. This process, introduced by the Forty-fourth Amendment, ensures continuous legislative oversight and prevents the indefinite extension of emergency powers.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
31
(c) I, II, III and IV
32
(d) I and II only
33
(b) Alternative macroeconomic stabilization and structural reforms were implemented to avert the crisis.
34
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
35
(d) They become inoperative six months after the emergency ceases to operate.
36
(a) I and III only
37
(b) Jayaprakash Narayan
38
(a) The State Legislature continues to function, but Parliament acquires concurrent power to legislate on state subjects.
39
(c) A is true but R is false.
40
(d) Introduction in Parliament Approval by Special Majority within 1 month Renewal every 6 months
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.
