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Question 29 of 38 · Centre-State Relations & Emergency Provisions
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President's Rule was imposed for the first time in India, in Punjab, on:

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Answer: Option A — 20 June 1951

Detailed Solution

President's Rule was imposed for the first time in India in Punjab on 20 June 1951, under Article 356.

Background:

  • At that time, Punjab had a Congress government led by Chief Minister Gopi Chand Bhargava.
  • There was serious internal conflict within the state Congress, which led to the resignation of the government.
  • As no alternative government could be formed, President's Rule was imposed.
  • It lasted until April 1952, when a new government was formed after the first general elections.

Meaning of President's Rule:

  • Under Article 356, if the President is satisfied that the government of a state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, he may proclaim President's Rule.
  • This is also called "State Emergency" or "Constitutional Emergency".

Effects of President's Rule:

  • The President takes over the functions of the state government.
  • The state legislature may be suspended or dissolved.
  • Parliament makes laws for the state.
  • The High Court's powers are not affected.

Duration:

  • A proclamation must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within two months.
  • Once approved, it lasts for six months and can be extended, up to a maximum of three years.

Misuse of Article 356:

Article 356 was used more than 100 times, often to dismiss state governments of opposition parties.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had hoped that this Article would remain a "dead letter" and would be used only as a last resort.

S.R. Bommai case (1994):

  • The Supreme Court held that the proclamation is subject to judicial review.
  • It said that the majority of a government must be tested on the floor of the House.
  • It held that secularism is part of the basic structure, and a state government acting against it can be dismissed.

Recommendations:

The Sarkaria Commission recommended that Article 356 should be used sparingly, only in extreme cases.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗26 November 1949 is when the Constitution was adopted.
  • ✗15 August 1951 does not match.
  • ✗31 July 1959 is when President's Rule was imposed in Kerala, dismissing the first elected Communist government.

Quick tip

Remember: First President's Rule = Punjab, 20 June 1951 (Article 356); Kerala 1959 was the first dismissal of a majority government.

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Centre-State Relations & Emergency Provisions — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Centre-State Relations & Emergency Provisions, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the distribution of legislative, administrative and financial powers between the Centre and the states, the Union, State and Concurrent Lists, inter-state councils and zonal councils, and the three types of emergency: national emergency (Article 352), President's rule (Article 356) and financial emergency (Article 360). Exams ask which list a subject falls in, which commission examined Centre-state relations (the Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions), and how often each type of emergency has been declared. Remember that a financial emergency has never been declared in India, and that 'armed rebellion' replaced 'internal disturbance' as a ground for national emergency through the 44th Amendment. Practise the Centre-state relations and emergency provisions questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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