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 61–70 of 70 questions
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q61. Arrange the following stages of imposing and extending a State Emergency under Article 356 in sequential order: A. Proclamation of President’s Rule B. Approval by both Houses of Parliament within two months C. Expiry of the initial six-month period D. Certification by the Election Commission for extension beyond one year E. Parliamentary approval for extension for another six months Select the correct sequence:
Explanation
The President first proclaims President’s Rule, and Parliament must approve it within two months. If it lasts for the initial six months, Parliament can approve an extension of six months at a time, and beyond one year the Election Commission must certify the need. The order is A, B, C, E, D.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q62. Which of the following is NOT an effect of the proclamation of a Financial Emergency?
Explanation
In a Financial Emergency the Union can direct States on financial propriety, money bills of States can be reserved for the President and salaries of judges can be reduced. Article 19 is not automatically suspended, since that happens only in a National Emergency, so D is not an effect.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q63. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Emergency Event
Consequence/Outcome
A. 1962 Emergency
i. 44th Amendment Act
B. 1971 Emergency
ii. No Financial Emergency imposed
C. 1975 Emergency
iii. Continued during the 1965 war
D. 1991 Economic Crisis
iv. Resulted in the creation of Bangladesh
Explanation
The 1962 Emergency continued during the 1965 war, the 1971 Emergency came with the war that created Bangladesh, the 1975 Emergency led to the 44th Amendment Act and no Financial Emergency was imposed even in the 1991 economic crisis. This gives A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q64. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the revocation of President’s Rule.
Explanation
President’s Rule can be revoked by the President at any time, without parliamentary approval, and it lapses if Parliament does not approve it within two months. The Lok Sabha has no power to force its revocation by a resolution, so B is incorrect.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q65. Select the correct chronological sequence of the amendments that impacted the Emergency Provisions.
Explanation
The 38th Amendment (1975) made the declaration of Emergency non-justiciable, the 42nd (1976) expanded Emergency powers and the 44th (1978) restored safeguards. The order is 38th, 42nd, 44th.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q66. The expression "failure of constitutional machinery" is associated with which Article?
Explanation
The expression failure of constitutional machinery is linked with Article 356, which provides for President’s Rule in a State.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q67. Consider the following consequences of the 1975 internal emergency: I. Imprisonment of key opposition leaders. II. Enactment of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act. III. Establishment of the Shah Commission to inquire into the abuses of the emergency. Which of the combinations given below correctly highlights the historical consequences?
Explanation
During the Emergency of 1975, key opposition leaders were jailed, the 42nd Amendment was passed and the Shah Commission was later set up to inquire into the excesses. All three are correct.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q68. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): The 44th Amendment Act made it mandatory for the President to act only on the written advice of the Cabinet to impose Article 352. Reason (R): This was done to prevent the Prime Minister from taking a unilateral decision in declaring an emergency, as happened in 1975. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
The 44th Amendment required the President to act only on the written advice of the Cabinet to proclaim an Emergency under Article 352. It was meant to stop the Prime Minister from deciding alone, as in 1975, so R explains A.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q69. Which of the following is the most appropriate definition of "Armed Rebellion" in the context of Article 352?
Explanation
Armed rebellion in Article 352 means a violent uprising against the State by organised armed groups. A big protest or civil disobedience is not armed rebellion.
RAS PrelimsIndian Polity and Governance · Emergency Provisions
Q70. Under Article 355, it is the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. This duty forms the basis for invoking:
Explanation
Article 355 makes it the Union’s duty to protect every State and to ensure that its government is carried on in accordance with the Constitution. This duty is the basis for invoking Article 356.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
61
(c) A, B, C, E, D
62
(d) The fundamental rights under Article 19 are automatically suspended.
63
(a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
64
(b) It must be revoked if the Lok Sabha passes a resolution demanding it.
65
(a) 38th Amendment 42nd Amendment 44th Amendment
66
(c) Article 356
67
(d) I, II and III
68
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
69
(b) A violent uprising against the state authority by organized armed groups.
70
(b) Article 356
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.
