Background of emergency

Emergency in India (1975–77) – Short Note The Emergency in India, proclaimed from June 25, 1975 to March 21, 1977, was a period when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi advised President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to declare a national emergency under Article 352 on the grounds of “internal disturbances.” During these 21 months, the government gained extraordinary powers: fundamental rights were suspended, press censorship was imposed, and many opposition leaders, activists, and critics were arrested under preventive detention laws such as MISA. Elections were postponed, and the central government exercised strict control over political and civil institutions. The period is often remembered as one of the most controversial and authoritarian phases in independent India’s political history. The Emergency ended in 1977 when elections were held, leading to a defeat of the ruling government and the rise of the Janata Party. Background of the Emergency Political instability and rising opposition: In the early 1970s, India faced political unrest, with protests led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP Movement), students, and labour groups demanding governmental reforms and accountability. Economic crisis: High inflation, shortages of essential goods, unemployment, and slow economic growth created widespread public dissatisfaction. Navnirman and Bihar Movements: Large-scale youth-led protests in Gujarat and Bihar added pressure on the central government. Allahabad High Court verdict (1975): On June 12, 1975, the court found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices in her 1971 election campaign and invalidated her Lok Sabha membership. This triggered a major political crisis and demands for her resignation. Call for nationwide movement: Jayaprakash Narayan called for nationwide civil disobedience against the government, which strengthened fears of instability within the ruling leadership.