Fear Was the Currency
(Source: The Indian Express, Editorial Page)
Also Read: The Indian Express Editorial Analysis: 25 June 2025
Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis: 25 June 2025
| Topic: GS1 – Post-Independence Indian History; GS2 – Governance |
| Context |
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Background:
- On 25th June 1975, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency under Article 352, citing internal disturbances.
- However, the real motivation was political insecurity stemming from the Allahabad High Court’s judgment invalidating her election and the rise of popular opposition led by Jayaprakash Narayan.
Mechanisms of Repression
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Preventive Detention and Arrests
Over 1,00,000 people were detained without trial under draconian laws like MISA and DIR.
Political opponents, journalists, and activists were arrested en masse. -
Media Censorship
All press was subjected to pre-censorship. Editors were arrested and publications shut down. -
Suspension of Civil Liberties
Fundamental Rights, including those under Article 19 and 21, were suspended. Even the right to life and liberty was curtailed. -
Forced Sterilization Campaigns
Sanjay Gandhi’s population control programme led to coercive sterilizations, disproportionately targeting the poor.
Institutional Complicity and Silence
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Judiciary’s Failure
The infamous ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla verdict held that even habeas corpus could be suspended, allowing for indefinite detentions. -
Bureaucratic Submission
Civil servants complied with authoritarian orders without resistance, failing in their constitutional duty of neutrality and public service. -
Rubber Stamp Parliament
Laws and constitutional amendments were rushed without debate, weakening legislative oversight.
Political Aftermath and Lessons
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1977 Elections
Contrary to expectations, the Indian electorate decisively voted out Indira Gandhi’s government. This marked the return of democratic norms and restored institutional trust. -
Rise of Coalition Politics
The Janata Party’s rise in 1977 led to increased decentralisation of political power and rise of regional voices. -
Constitutional Safeguards
The 44th Constitutional Amendment (1978) sought to correct Emergency excesses by restricting the arbitrary powers under Article 352 and strengthening fundamental rights.
Key Features and Outcomes of the 1975 Emergency
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Declared Under | Article 352 – Internal Disturbance (now amended to “armed rebellion”) |
| Duration | June 25, 1975 – March 21, 1977 (21 months) |
| Key Policies | Mass preventive detentions, censorship, sterilization drives, constitutional amendments |
| Institutional Response | Judiciary, Parliament, and bureaucracy largely failed to resist authoritarianism |
| Post-Emergency Impact | Electoral defeat of Congress, 44th Amendment, public awareness of rights |
Conclusion & Way Forward
- The Emergency serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of democratic systems when institutions fail to assert their autonomy.
- For UPSC aspirants, it is not just a chapter in Indian political history but a cautionary tale about governance, civil liberties, and constitutional morality.
- A vigilant civil society, free press, and a courageous judiciary remain the most effective safeguards against authoritarianism.
| Practice Question: (GS-1 | 15 Marks | 250 Words) Analyze the causes, consequences, and constitutional legacy of the 1975 Emergency. How did it reshape India’s democratic institutions? |
