Key Points

The years 1971-74 saw major economic problems like high inflation due to the Bangladesh crisis, US aid suspension, and global oil price hikes, leading to widespread public dissatisfaction and protests.

In 1974, student-led movements in Gujarat and Bihar protested against price rises, corruption, and unemployment. These movements challenged the Congress governments in the states and at the national level.

Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), a socialist leader, led the Bihar movement and called for 'Sampoorna Kranti' or Total Revolution to bring about social, economic, and political change. He became the symbol of opposition to Indira Gandhi.

A nationwide railway strike led by George Fernandes in May 1974 added to the atmosphere of political instability. The government suppressed the strike forcefully, arresting many leaders.

Tensions grew between the government and judiciary over Parliament's power to amend the Constitution, culminating in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), which established the 'basic structure' doctrine.

On June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court declared Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's 1971 Lok Sabha election invalid on grounds of electoral malpractice. This judgment acted as a direct trigger for the Emergency.

On the night of June 25, 1975, President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared a National Emergency upon the advice of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, citing a threat of 'internal disturbance' under Article 352 of the Constitution.

The Emergency led to the suspension of Fundamental Rights, strict press censorship, and the arrest of thousands of opposition leaders under preventive detention laws. Organizations like the RSS were banned.

Passed during the Emergency in 1976, this controversial amendment made widespread changes to the Constitution, including extending the term of the Lok Sabha from five to six years and curtailing the power of the judiciary.

The post-Emergency Janata Party government appointed the Shah Commission in 1977 to investigate the excesses committed during the Emergency. The commission found that the decision to impose Emergency was made by the Prime Minister without consulting her cabinet.

The Emergency highlighted the value of civil liberties and led to constitutional safeguards, such as changing the grounds for internal emergency from 'internal disturbance' to 'armed rebellion'. It also showed that it is extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India.

The 1977 elections became a referendum on the Emergency. Opposition parties united to form the Janata Party, which campaigned on the slogan of 'save democracy'.

For the first time since independence, the Congress party was defeated in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections. The Janata Party and its allies won a clear majority, and Morarji Desai became the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India.

The Janata Party government (1977-1979) was marked by internal power struggles and a lack of clear direction. It collapsed in less than three years, leading to mid-term elections.

In the 1980 Lok Sabha elections, Indira Gandhi's Congress party returned to power with a massive majority, as voters punished the unstable Janata government. This demonstrated that voters also value stable governance.

The post-Emergency period saw the consolidation of 'non-Congressism' as a political strategy. The Janata Party's rise also brought the issue of reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to the forefront, leading to the appointment of the Mandal Commission.