Effects of Emergency Practice Questions
20 free Effects of Emergency practice questions for the Indian Polity. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
What is the primary effect on the executive power of the Union during a National Emergency under Article 352?
- A The State executive is dismissed immediately by the President
- B The Union can give executive directions to a State on any matter
- C The Union executive power is suspended during the emergency period
- D The Governor takes over all executive functions of the State
Correct answer: The Union can give executive directions to a State on any matter
During a National Emergency, the executive power of the Union extends to directing any State as to the manner in which its executive power is to be exercised. Unlike President's Rule, the State government is not dismissed but comes under the complete control of the Centre.
What happens to the legislative power of the Parliament regarding the State List during a National Emergency?
- A Parliament can only legislate on Concurrent List subjects during the emergency period
- B State Legislatures are dissolved immediately upon the proclamation of emergency
- C Parliament becomes empowered to make laws on any subject in the State List
- D State laws on State List subjects are automatically repealed by the Union
Correct answer: Parliament becomes empowered to make laws on any subject in the State List
Under Article 250, while a proclamation of emergency is in operation, Parliament has the power to make laws for the whole or any part of India with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List. The State Legislatures continue to exist but their power becomes subject to the overriding power of Parliament.
A law made by Parliament on a State List subject during an emergency becomes inoperative after how long following the cessation of the emergency?
- A Immediately
- B Three months
- C Six months
- D One year
Correct answer: Six months
According to Article 250(2), laws made by Parliament on State subjects during an emergency cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of six months after the proclamation has ceased to operate. This excludes things done or omitted to be done before the expiration of said period.
During a National Emergency, the President can modify the constitutional distribution of revenues between the Union and the States under which Article?
- A Article 265
- B Article 353
- C Article 354
- D Article 360
Correct answer: Article 354
Article 354 empowers the President to direct that all or any of the provisions relating to the distribution of revenues (Articles 268 to 279) shall have effect subject to such exceptions or modifications as he thinks fit. Such orders must be laid before each House of Parliament.
What is the maximum period by which the life of the Lok Sabha can be extended at a time during a National Emergency?
- A Six months
- B One year
- C Two years
- D Indefinitely
Correct answer: One year
Under Article 83(2), while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, the Parliament may by law extend the term of the Lok Sabha for a period not exceeding one year at a time. However, this extension cannot continue beyond a period of six months after the proclamation has ceased to operate.
What effect does a National Emergency have on the term of a State Legislative Assembly?
- A The term cannot be extended under any circumstances
- B The term is automatically reduced to three years by law
- C Parliament can extend the term by one year at a time
- D The Assembly is dissolved immediately by the President
Correct answer: Parliament can extend the term by one year at a time
Similar to the Lok Sabha, the Parliament may extend the normal tenure of a State Legislative Assembly by one year each time during a National Emergency. This extension is also subject to a maximum limit of six months after the emergency ends.
Which Article provides for the automatic suspension of Fundamental Rights guaranteed by Article 19 during an External Emergency?
- A Article 356
- B Article 358
- C Article 359
- D Article 360
Correct answer: Article 358
Article 358 provides that when a proclamation of National Emergency is made on grounds of war or external aggression, the six Fundamental Rights under Article 19 are automatically suspended. They revive automatically once the emergency expires.
Under Article 359, what exactly is suspended by a Presidential Order?
- A The Fundamental Rights themselves permanently
- B The enforcement of specified Fundamental Rights
- C The entire Part III of the Constitution completely
- D The power of the High Courts only, not the Supreme Court
Correct answer: The enforcement of specified Fundamental Rights
Article 359 does not suspend the Fundamental Rights themselves, but rather the right to move any court for the enforcement of such rights as specified in the Presidential Order. The rights remain theoretically valid but are legally unenforceable for the duration.
The 44th Amendment Act restricted the scope of Article 358 by stating that it applies only when the emergency is declared on the ground of:
- A Armed Rebellion in the country
- B Internal Disturbance alone
- C War or External Aggression
- D Financial Instability only
Correct answer: War or External Aggression
The 44th Amendment clarified that Article 19 is suspended only during an 'External Emergency' (war/external aggression). If the emergency is declared on grounds of 'Armed Rebellion' (Internal Emergency), Article 19 remains operative.
Legislative or executive actions taken during an emergency under Article 358 cannot be challenged even after the emergency expires, provided:
- A They were in accordance with the Preamble and directive principles
- B They were related to the laws mentioned in the emergency proclamation
- C The President gave a special assent to those specific acts and orders
- D The laws contained a recital that they were in relation to the emergency
Correct answer: The laws contained a recital that they were in relation to the emergency
The 44th Amendment added that only those laws which contain a recital that they are in relation to the Proclamation of Emergency, and executive action taken under such laws, are protected from challenge under Article 358.
Which of the following describes the 'Unitary' impact of a National Emergency on the Indian Federation?
- A The federal structure is formally converted into a unitary one without constitutional amendment
- B State governments are completely replaced by Union-appointed administrators and bureaucrats
- C The Supreme Court is physically relocated to the Central Secretariat building in New Delhi
- D States permanently and irrevocably lose their entire territory to the Union government
Correct answer: The federal structure is formally converted into a unitary one without constitutional amendment
During a National Emergency, the federal fabric of the Constitution undergoes a transformation where the Union becomes all-powerful and States go into total control of the Centre. This happens by operation of the law without a formal amendment under Article 368.
What is the status of the State Legislature during the operation of President's Rule under Article 356?
- A It is permanently dissolved and cannot be revived
- B It is suspended but continues under Union control
- C It continues to function normally without any restriction
- D It is either suspended or dissolved by the President
Correct answer: It is either suspended or dissolved by the President
Under Article 356, the President can either dissolve the State Legislative Assembly or keep it in a state of suspended animation. The Parliament then exercises the legislative powers of that State.
During President's Rule, who generally carries on the administration of the State on behalf of the President?
- A The Prime Minister directly through the Cabinet
- B The Chief Justice of the High Court and judiciary
- C The Speaker of the Lok Sabha with parliamentary aid
- D The Governor with the help of Chief Secretary/Advisors
Correct answer: The Governor with the help of Chief Secretary/Advisors
When President's Rule is imposed, the Governor, on behalf of the President, carries on the administration of the state with the help of the Chief Secretary of the state or advisors appointed by the President.
Which of the following is a consequence of Financial Emergency under Article 360?
- A The Union can direct States to reserve Money Bills for President's consideration
- B State Legislatures are completely prohibited from passing any budgets or financial bills
- C The Finance Commission is dissolved for the entire duration of the emergency period
- D India's membership in the International Monetary Fund is suspended indefinitely
Correct answer: The Union can direct States to reserve Money Bills for President's consideration
During a Financial Emergency, the Union can direct States to reserve all money bills or other financial bills for the consideration of the President after they are passed by the State Legislature.
If a National Emergency is in operation only in a part of India, the Union's executive and legislative power extends to:
- A Any State, even where the emergency is not in force
- B Only that specific part of the country
- C Only the neighboring States nearby
- D No other State except the one under emergency currently
Correct answer: Any State, even where the emergency is not in force
The 42nd Amendment (1976) enabled the Union to extend its executive and legislative powers to any State other than the one where the emergency is in actual operation, if the security of India is threatened by activities in the emergency-hit area.
What happens to the power of a State Legislature to make laws on State List subjects during a National Emergency?
- A It is completely taken away for the entire emergency period
- B It is suspended entirely until the emergency ends completely
- C It is transferred entirely to the Governor's discretion
- D It remains, but in case of conflict, the Parliamentary law prevails
Correct answer: It remains, but in case of conflict, the Parliamentary law prevails
The power of a State Legislature to make laws on the State List is not suspended. However, if a State law is repugnant to a Parliamentary law made under Article 250, the Parliamentary law prevails (Article 251).
During a National Emergency, the President can issue ordinances on State subjects if:
- A The Parliament is not in session
- B The State Legislature is dissolved
- C The Governor requests the President
- D The Supreme Court provides a reference
Correct answer: The Parliament is not in session
Since Parliament becomes empowered to legislate on State subjects during a National Emergency, the President can also issue ordinances on those subjects if the Parliament is not in session.
The suspension of the enforcement of Fundamental Rights under Article 359 must be approved by:
- A The President, acting alone
- B The Supreme Court alone
- C The Cabinet, without Parliament
- D Both Houses of Parliament
Correct answer: Both Houses of Parliament
Every order made by the President under Article 359 (suspending the enforcement of rights) must be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as may be after it is made for its approval.
Which of the following Fundamental Rights remains enforceable during an emergency due to the 44th Amendment?
- A Right against double jeopardy and self-incrimination
- B Right to Property under the Constitution
- C Right to move freely throughout the territory of India
- D Right to practice any profession or trade freely
Correct answer: Right against double jeopardy and self-incrimination
The 44th Amendment prohibited the suspension of the enforcement of Articles 20 and 21. Article 20 includes protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination.
When a National Emergency is revoked, what is the status of executive actions taken during the emergency that were inconsistent with Article 19?
- A They continue to be valid and cannot be challenged
- B They become void ab initio from the very beginning
- C They must be formally ratified by the newly elected Parliament
- D They are automatically compensated by the State government
Correct answer: They continue to be valid and cannot be challenged
Under Article 358, once the emergency ceases, anything done or omitted to be done during the emergency cannot be challenged even after the emergency is over. The Article 19 rights revive, but only for future actions.