Emergency, Regional Aspirations and Social Movements
What the domain tests
This domain tests the 1975-77 Emergency, its constitutional and civil-liberties consequences, and regional and social movements that challenged the state.
Core rules and concepts
- The Emergency was proclaimed in June 1975 under Article 352 after the Allahabad High Court set aside Indira Gandhi's election; the stated ground was internal disturbance.
- Civil liberties were suspended; opposition leaders were arrested; censorship was imposed; the 42nd Amendment altered the Constitution and curtailed judicial review.
- The 1977 elections ended the Emergency; the Shah Commission later documented excesses.
- Regional aspirations included Punjab's Anandpur Sahib Resolution (1973), Operation Blue Star (1984), the Assam Accord (1985) and the Mizoram Accord (1986).
- Social movements include farmers' movements, environmental movements such as Chipko, women's movements and Dalit rights mobilisation.
- Movements may seek autonomy, statehood, resource rights or social change; not all are secessionist.
Worked example
Why did the Emergency damage the government's legitimacy? Reasoning: mass arrests without trial and press censorship violated civil liberties; the 42nd Amendment concentrated power; the 1977 verdict showed electoral accountability. The episode strengthened arguments for judicial review and civil rights.
Traps that cost marks
- Saying the Emergency was declared only because of one court case; political and social tensions mattered too.
- Treating all regional movements as separatist.
- Forgetting the 42nd Amendment's federal implications.
- Assuming social movements are always anti-state.