Question

What changes take place in the governance system after the declaration of the emergency?

Hint:

When answering about the 1975 Emergency, focus on the three pillars of its impact: impact on citizens (loss of rights), impact on politics (arrest of opposition), and impact on institutions (censorship of press and weakening of judiciary).

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks about the major changes in India's system of governance following the declaration of the National Emergency on June 25, 1975.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The declaration of the Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution led to drastic and far-reaching changes in the Indian governance system:


Suspension of Fundamental Rights: The government suspended the enforcement of most Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including the right to life and personal liberty (Article 21). Citizens could not go to court to challenge their detention.

Centralization of Power: The federal character of the Indian polity was severely undermined. Power became highly concentrated in the hands of the central executive, specifically the Prime Minister's office. The authority of state governments was curtailed.

Press Censorship: Severe restrictions were imposed on the media. Newspapers were required to get prior approval from government censors before publishing any news. This led to a blackout of information and dissent.

Arrest of Opposition: A large number of opposition political leaders, social activists, and workers were arrested under preventive detention laws like the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). This effectively silenced all political opposition.

Postponement of Elections: Elections, including the Lok Sabha elections due in 1976, were postponed, extending the term of the parliament.

Constitutional Changes: The government passed several controversial constitutional amendments. The most notable was the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, which made sweeping changes to the Constitution, reducing the power of the judiciary and increasing the power of the Parliament and the executive.

These changes effectively transformed India from a democracy into an authoritarian state for the 21-month period of the Emergency.
Step 3: Final Answer:
After the declaration of the emergency, the governance system changed drastically, marked by the suspension of citizens' rights, media censorship, imprisonment of opponents, and a concentration of power in the central government.