Dark Chapter in History: 50 years since 1975 Emergency declaration—Cabinet observes 2-minute silence

It was business as usual at the June 25 meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, except the gathering observed a two-minute silence aimed at recalling a dark patch in history as the country completed 50 years since the declaration of national Emergency back in 1975. The Cabinet made a number of announcements after the two-minute silence, including the passage of a resolution on the Constitution Assassination Day.

The two-minute silence was observed as “a tribute to those whose constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights were taken away and who were then subjected to unimaginable horrors”, with the Cabinet paying “tributes to their exemplary courage and valiant resistance to the Emergency’s excesses”, according to an official statement.

“India, as the Mother of Democracy, stands as an example of preserving, protecting and safeguarding constitutional values,” it noted.

Here are 10 things to know about the 1975–77 Emergency in India:

When was National Emergency in force?

Emergency was in effect from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977, under Article 352 of the Constitution.

Why was Emergency declared?

Emergency was declared against the backdrop of mounting political unrest and judicial developments that shook the legitimacy of the ruling leadership.

What is Emergency?

According to Article 352, the President of India can declare an emergency when the security of any part of the nation is threatened by war, external aggression, armed rebellion, or the imminent danger of such events. It is a period during which the constitutional rights of citizens may be curtailed. The state of Emergency enables the central government to take stern action to safeguard the nation’s security, integrity, and sovereignty.

What pushed India into a state of emergency?

In the early 1970s, opposition to the then government intensified, with protests led by Jayaprakash Narayan gathering steam in Bihar and Gujarat. On June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court ruled that then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had misused government machinery in her 1971 general election campaign, finding her guilty under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The ruling also disqualified her from holding any elected office for six years.

This case was filed by Raj Narain, the socialist leader who had lost to Gandhi in Rae Bareli. His legal challenge resulted in the landmark verdict. However, the apex court granted a conditional stay. Gandhi could continue to be PM and attend Parliament but was barred from voting. The political crisis intensified, with demands for her resignation.

‘Threat from internal disturbance’

On June 25, 1975, then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed issued the Emergency proclamation, citing threats from internal disturbance. At the time, Article 352 allowed the President to declare Emergency on three grounds: war, external aggression, or internal disturbance. The clause was amended later, replacing the phrase “internal disturbance” with “armed rebellion” in 1978.

Was this the first Emergency in India?

No, this was the third Emergency in India’s history. It was the first time it was declared during peacetime.

Earlier proclamations were during wars with China and Pakistan in 1962 and 1971 respectively.

What happened during National Emergency?

The executive acquired overriding powers, and state authority was brought under central control. Constitutional safeguards were systematically suspended.

Which other Articles were invoked after the June 25, 1975, move?

On June 27, 1975, Articles 358 and 359 were also invoked. While Article 358 impacted freedom of speech, expression, assembly, and movement, Article 359 affected aspects such as equality before law, the right to life and liberty, and protection against detention.

During this period, opposition leaders including Jayaprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and L.K. Advani were arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).

This period saw strict control over the press and public information. From June 26, 1975, pre-censorship was imposed on all newspapers. Editors were required to get government clearance before publishing news, editorials, or photographs. On February 1, 1976, the government merged four major news agencies—Press Trust of India (PTI), United News of India (UNI), Samachar Bharati, and Hindustan Samachar—into a single entity named Samachar. Also, the statutory watchdog, Press Council of India, was abolished.