National Emergency Practice Questions
20 free National 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.
Under which Article of the Indian Constitution can the President declare a National Emergency?
- A Article 352
- B Article 356
- C Article 360
- D Article 358
Correct answer: Article 352
Article 352 empowers the President to proclaim a National Emergency when the security of India or any part of it is threatened by war, external aggression, or armed rebellion. This is distinct from State Emergency (Art. 356) and Financial Emergency (Art. 360).
Which Constitutional Amendment Act replaced the term 'internal disturbance' with 'armed rebellion' for the proclamation of a National Emergency?
- A 38th Amendment Act
- B 42nd Amendment Act
- C 44th Amendment Act
- D 46th Amendment Act
Correct answer: 44th Amendment Act
The 44th Amendment Act (1978) introduced 'armed rebellion' to prevent the misuse of the emergency provisions on the vague grounds of 'internal disturbance'. This change was a direct response to the emergency declared in 1975.
A proclamation of National Emergency must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within what time frame from the date of its issue?
- A Two weeks
- B One month
- C Two months
- D Six months
Correct answer: One month
Originally, the period was two months, but the 44th Amendment Act reduced it to one month. If not approved within this period, the proclamation ceases to operate.
What is the maximum period for which a National Emergency can be extended at any one time after parliamentary approval?
- A Three months at a time
- B Six months at a time
- C One year at a time
- D No fixed restriction
Correct answer: Six months at a time
Once approved by Parliament, the emergency continues for six months. It can be extended for an indefinite period through repeated parliamentary approvals every six months.
Which of the following majorities is required in Parliament to approve or extend a National Emergency?
- A Simple majority of both Houses
- B Special majority of both Houses
- C Special majority + ratification by half of the states
- D Absolute majority of the Lok Sabha only
Correct answer: Special majority of both Houses
The 44th Amendment Act mandated that every resolution approving the proclamation or its continuance must be passed by either House by a special majority. Previously, a simple majority was sufficient.
Which Article deals with the suspension of the provisions of Article 19 during a National Emergency?
- A Article 356
- B Article 358
- C Article 359
- D Article 360
Correct answer: Article 358
According to Article 358, the six Fundamental Rights under Article 19 are automatically suspended when a proclamation of National Emergency is made on the grounds of war or external aggression. It does not apply in cases of 'armed rebellion'.
Under Article 359, which Fundamental Rights CANNOT be suspended by the President even during a National Emergency?
- A Articles 14 and 19
- B Articles 20 and 21
- C Articles 23 and 24
- D Articles 19 and 20
Correct answer: Articles 20 and 21
The 44th Amendment Act prohibited the suspension of the rights guaranteed by Articles 20 (protection in respect of conviction for offences) and 21 (protection of life and personal liberty). All other rights can be suspended by a specific presidential order.
The President can proclaim a National Emergency only after receiving a written recommendation from whom?
- A The Prime Minister
- B The Home Minister
- C The Union Cabinet
- D The Chief Justice of India
Correct answer: The Union Cabinet
This safeguard was added by the 44th Amendment Act to ensure that the President acts on the collective advice of the Cabinet, not just the Prime Minister. This prevents a unilateral decision by the PM.
What happens to the legislative power of a State during a National Emergency declared under Article 352?
- A The State Legislature is dissolved
- B The State Legislature is suspended
- C Parliament legislates on the State List
- D State legislative powers remain unaffected
Correct answer: Parliament legislates on the State List
During a National Emergency, the federal structure becomes unitary. While the State Legislature is not suspended, Parliament gains concurrent power to legislate on any subject mentioned in the State List.
In which landmark case did the Supreme Court rule that the proclamation of a National Emergency can be challenged in a court on the ground of malafide?
- A Minerva Mills Case (1980)
- B Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973)
- C Indira Gandhi vs. Raj Narain Case (1975)
- D Golaknath Case (1967)
Correct answer: Minerva Mills Case (1980)
In the Minerva Mills case, the Supreme Court held that there is no bar to judicial review of a proclamation of emergency. The court can examine if the proclamation was based on irrelevant or malafide considerations.
Which of the following is an effect of a National Emergency on the tenure of the Lok Sabha?
- A Tenure is reduced by one year
- B Tenure cannot be extended
- C Parliament may extend tenure by one year at a time
- D Tenure is automatically extended by six months
Correct answer: Parliament may extend tenure by one year at a time
The Life of the Lok Sabha may be extended beyond its normal term (five years) by a law of Parliament for one year at a time during a National Emergency. However, this extension cannot continue beyond a period of six months after the emergency has ceased to operate.
A resolution for the 'disapproval' of the continuation of a National Emergency requires which type of majority?
- A Simple majority of Lok Sabha only
- B Special majority of both Houses
- C Simple majority of both Houses
- D Absolute majority of the Rajya Sabha
Correct answer: Simple majority of Lok Sabha only
Under the 44th Amendment, a resolution for disapproval of the emergency needs to be passed by the Lok Sabha only by a simple majority. In contrast, approval requires a special majority of both Houses.
How many times has a National Emergency been proclaimed in India so far?
- A One
- B Two
- C Three
- D More than four
Correct answer: Three
National Emergency has been proclaimed three times: in 1962 (Chinese aggression), 1971 (Pakistan war), and 1975 (Internal disturbance). No National Emergency has been declared since 1977.
When a National Emergency is declared on the ground of 'Armed Rebellion', which of the following is true regarding Article 19?
- A Article 19 is automatically suspended
- B Article 19 can be suspended by a Presidential Order
- C Article 19 cannot be suspended at all
- D Only the right to assemble is suspended
Correct answer: Article 19 cannot be suspended at all
Article 358 provides for the automatic suspension of Article 19 only when the emergency is declared on grounds of war or external aggression. It cannot be suspended if the emergency is declared due to armed rebellion (internal emergency).
What is the impact of a National Emergency on the distribution of revenues between the Union and the States?
- A No change in revenue distribution
- B President can modify revenue distribution
- C The Finance Commission is suspended
- D All state revenues are transferred to the Union
Correct answer: President can modify revenue distribution
Under Article 354, the President can modify the constitutional distribution of revenues between the Union and the States. Such modifications continue until the end of the financial year in which the emergency ceases to operate.
If the Lok Sabha stands dissolved at the time of the proclamation of emergency, how is the proclamation approved?
- A By the Rajya Sabha alone within 30 days
- B By the new Lok Sabha within 30 days of its first sitting
- C By the President's executive order
- D Approval is not required until the new Lok Sabha is formed
Correct answer: By the new Lok Sabha within 30 days of its first sitting
If the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the proclamation survives until 30 days from the first sitting of the newly elected Lok Sabha, provided the Rajya Sabha has approved it in the meantime. Failure of the new Lok Sabha to approve it within 30 days leads to its expiry.
Which Article empowers the Union to give directions to any State as to the manner in which the executive power thereof is to be exercised during a National Emergency?
- A Article 352
- B Article 353
- C Article 355
- D Article 356
Correct answer: Article 353
Article 353 (a) extends the executive power of the Union to the giving of directions to any State. This effectively places the state executive under the complete control of the Union executive.
Can a National Emergency be declared in a specific part of India rather than the whole country?
- A No, it must always be for the whole of India
- B Yes, according to the 42nd Amendment Act
- C Yes, according to the 44th Amendment Act
- D Only with the consent of the affected state
Correct answer: Yes, according to the 42nd Amendment Act
The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 enabled the President to limit the operation of a National Emergency to a specified part of India. Before this, it could only be applied to the entire country.
A special sitting of the Lok Sabha to consider a resolution for disapproving the emergency must be held within 14 days if how many members give notice?
- A One-tenth of total members
- B One-fourth of total members
- C 50 members
- D 100 members
Correct answer: One-tenth of total members
If 1/10th of the total members of the Lok Sabha give a written notice to the Speaker (or the President if the House is not in session), a special sitting must be held within 14 days to consider a resolution for disapproval.
Laws made by Parliament on State subjects during a National Emergency become inoperative after how many months of the emergency ceasing to operate?
- A Three months
- B Six months
- C Nine months
- D Twelve months
Correct answer: Six months
According to Article 250, laws made by Parliament on state list subjects during an emergency cease to have effect on the expiration of six months after the proclamation has ceased to operate, except for things done or omitted before then.