GK Question

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The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978 strengthened Emergency safeguards after the experience of the ______ Emergency (1975-77), which saw widespread rights violations and political misuse.

  1. 1962
  2. 1971
  3. 1975
  4. 1984

Answer: 1975

1975-77 Emergency lessons and reforms: (a) Context: Political crisis, Allahabad HC verdict against PM Indira Gandhi; Emergency proclaimed on 'internal disturbance' ground, (b) Misuses: (i) Widespread arrests without trial, (ii) Press censorship, (iii) Forced sterilizations, (iv) Suspension of judicial review (ADM Jabalpur case), (c) 44th Amendment reforms (1978): (i) 'Armed rebellion' replaces 'internal disturbance' (higher threshold), (ii) Written Cabinet advice mandatory, (iii) Parliamentary approval within 1 month by special majority, (iv) Articles 20-21 non-suspendable, (v) Lok Sabha can revoke by simple majority, (d) Impact: Raised threshold for Emergency; strengthened democratic safeguards; no National Emergency proclaimed since despite various crises. Illustrates constitutional learning: democratic resilience through institutional reform after crisis.

Topic Emergency Powers - Article 352 Historical Learning
Exam Relevance Emergency history and reforms frequently asked in UPSC and SSC exams
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