Emergency Provisions — Articles 352, 356 and 360 in Practice

Three Emergencies, One Part of the Constitution

Part XVIII of the Constitution, Articles 352 to 360, lets the Union take extraordinary powers when the country, a state government or the treasury is in danger. The idea was borrowed from the Government of India Act, 1935, and the design is deliberately federal-in-peace, unitary-in-crisis.

Emergency · Article · Ground

National · 352 · War, external aggression, armed rebellion

President's Rule (State) · 356 · Failure of constitutional machinery in a state

Financial · 360 · Threat to financial stability or credit of India

Exams do not ask why these exist. They ask four things, every time: which article, who proclaims it, who approves it and for how long. Build the answer on that grid and the topic is small.

One fact worth carrying from the first card: of the three, only Financial Emergency has never once been declared in India.

1. Financial Emergency in India is declared under which article of the Constitution?

2. The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978 replaced which expression in Article 352?

3. Which type of emergency has never been proclaimed in India so far?

4. What is the maximum period for which President's Rule can normally continue in a state?

5. During a National Emergency, the enforcement of which Fundamental Rights can never be suspended?

6. In which case did the Supreme Court hold that a proclamation under Article 356 is subject to judicial review and that majority must be tested on the floor of the House?

7. A proclamation of National Emergency must be approved by Parliament within which period, and by what majority?

8. The National Emergency proclaimed in June 1975 was declared on which ground?