NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 6: The Crisis of Democratic Order
These Class 12 Political Science Chapter 6 solutions cover The Crisis of Democratic Order from the textbook Politics in India Since Independence, updated for the NCERT 2026–27 session. The chapter examines the most controversial phase of India’s democracy — the Emergency of 1975–77: its economic and political background, the Gujarat and Bihar movements, the Railway Strike of 1974, the conflict with the judiciary, the Allahabad High Court verdict against Indira Gandhi, the proclamation and consequences of the Emergency, the 1977 elections, the rise and fall of the Janata government, and the lasting lessons for Indian democracy. Below you get exact answers to all NCERT exercise questions, key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.
Class: 12Subject: Political ScienceBook: Politics in India Since IndependenceChapter: 6Title: The Crisis of Democratic OrderSession: 2026–27
Chapter 6, The Crisis of Democratic Order, studies the crucial phase between 1973 and 1977 when India’s democratic order faced its severest test. After 1971 the Congress recovered under Indira Gandhi, but rising prices, unemployment, failed monsoons and the strain of the Bangladesh crisis bred widespread discontent. The Gujarat and Bihar movements and the Railway Strike of 1974 turned popular protest into a national anti-Congress wave, with Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) calling for ‘Total Revolution’. A parallel conflict with the judiciary (the Kesavananda Bharati case, the supersession of judges, the appointment of Justice A. N. Ray) deepened the tension. When the Allahabad High Court declared Indira Gandhi’s election invalid on 12 June 1975, the government invoked Article 352 and proclaimed a national Emergency on 25 June 1975. Fundamental Rights were suspended, the press was censored, opposition leaders were jailed and the Constitution was amended (including the 42nd Amendment). The 1977 elections became a referendum on the Emergency: the Congress was defeated for the first time and the Janata Party formed the first non-Congress government, though it soon collapsed. The chapter concludes that the episode strengthened the foundations of Indian democracy and revived concern for civil liberties.
Key Terms & Concepts
Emergency (1975–77): the state of emergency proclaimed on 25 June 1975 under Article 352 of the Constitution on the ground of ‘internal disturbance’; it concentrated power in the union government, suspended Fundamental Rights and lasted until early 1977.
Article 352: the constitutional provision under which a national emergency may be declared on grounds of external threat or (then) internal disturbance; once proclaimed, the federal distribution of powers is practically suspended and Fundamental Rights can be restricted.
Total Revolution (Sampoorna Kranti): the call given by Jayaprakash Narayan in 1974 for a wide-ranging change in the social, economic and political spheres to establish what he considered true democracy.
Gujarat and Bihar movements (1974): students’ agitations against rising prices and corruption that drew in opposition parties; the Bihar movement, led by JP, acquired a national political character.
Railway Strike of 1974: the nationwide strike by railway employees led by George Fernandes (National Coordination Committee for Railwaymen’s Struggle) over bonus and service conditions; declared illegal, it was called off after twenty days.
Kesavananda Bharati case (1973): the Supreme Court ruling that there are some ‘basic features’ of the Constitution that Parliament cannot amend — the basic structure doctrine.
Allahabad High Court verdict (12 June 1975): Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha’s judgment on Raj Narain’s petition declaring Indira Gandhi’s 1971 Lok Sabha election invalid for misuse of government machinery.
Preventive detention: arrest and detention of persons not for an offence committed but on the apprehension that they may commit one; used extensively during the Emergency.
Press censorship: the suspension of press freedom whereby newspapers had to get prior government approval for all published material.
42nd Amendment: a wide-ranging amendment passed during the Emergency; among other changes it extended the term of legislatures from five to six years.
Shah Commission: the commission of inquiry appointed in 1977 by the Janata government, headed by Justice J. C. Shah, to investigate the excesses committed during the Emergency.
Janata Party: the party formed on the eve of the 1977 elections by the merger of major opposition parties under JP’s leadership; it formed the first non-Congress government at the Centre.
NCERT Exercise — Full Solutions
All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter exercise. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.
1. State whether the following statements regarding the Emergency are correct or incorrect.
(a) It was declared in 1975 by Indira Gandhi.(b) It led to the suspension of all fundamental rights.(c) It was proclaimed due to the deteriorating economic conditions.(d) Many Opposition leaders were arrested during the emergency.(e) CPI supported the proclamation of the Emergency.
ANSWER(a) Correct. The Emergency was proclaimed on 25 June 1975 on the recommendation of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.(b) Incorrect. The Emergency did not suspend ‘all’ fundamental rights as such; rather, under its provisions the government got the power to curtail or restrict Fundamental Rights, and the right of citizens to move the courts for restoring their rights stood suspended. Several rights were suspended, but the statement as worded is not strictly accurate.(c) Incorrect. The official reason given for the proclamation was the threat of ‘internal disturbance’ under Article 352, not the deteriorating economic conditions. Economic distress formed the background but was not the stated ground.(d) Correct. A large number of opposition leaders and workers were arrested in the early hours after the proclamation.(e) Correct. The Communist Party of India (CPI) was an ally of the Congress at this time and supported the proclamation of the Emergency (it later admitted this had been a mistake).
2. Find the odd one out in the context of proclamation of Emergency.
(a) The call for ‘Total Revolution’.(b) The Railway Strike of 1974(c) The Naxalite Movement(d) The Allahabad High Court verdict(e) The findings of the Shah Commission Report
ANSWERThe odd one out is (e) The findings of the Shah Commission Report.Options (a) to (d) — the call for Total Revolution, the Railway Strike of 1974, the Naxalite movement and the Allahabad High Court verdict — were all developments that preceded and built up to the proclamation of the Emergency. The Shah Commission, by contrast, was appointed in 1977 by the Janata government after the Emergency to inquire into its excesses, so it relates to the aftermath, not the context of its proclamation.
3. Match the following.
(a) Total Revolution — i. Indira Gandhi(b) Garibi hatao — ii. Jayaprakash Narayan(c) Students’ Protest — iii. Bihar Movement(d) Railway Strike — iv. George Fernandes
ANSWER
Column A
Column B
(a) Total Revolution
ii. Jayaprakash Narayan
(b) Garibi hatao
i. Indira Gandhi
(c) Students’ Protest
iii. Bihar Movement
(d) Railway Strike
iv. George Fernandes
Jayaprakash Narayan gave the call for ‘Total Revolution’; ‘Garibi hatao’ was the slogan of Indira Gandhi in 1971; the students’ protest was the basis of the Bihar Movement; and the Railway Strike of 1974 was led by George Fernandes.
4. What were the reasons which led to the mid-term elections in 1980?
ANSWERThe mid-term elections of 1980 were caused by the collapse of the Janata Party government formed after 1977:Internal disunity: the Janata Party was a coalition of diverse parties held together mainly by their opposition to the Emergency. Critics felt it lacked direction, leadership and a common programme.Power struggle: there was bitter competition for leadership among Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram, which continued even after Morarji Desai became Prime Minister.Loss of majority: the Janata Party split, and the Morarji Desai government lost its majority in less than 28 months. A new government led by Charan Singh was formed with the assurance of Congress support.Withdrawal of support: the Congress later withdrew its support, so the Charan Singh government survived for only about four months without facing Parliament. With no stable government possible, the Lok Sabha was dissolved and fresh (mid-term) elections were held in January 1980, in which the Congress led by Indira Gandhi returned to power.
5. The Shah Commission was appointed in 1977 by the Janata Party Government. Why was it appointed and what were its findings?
ANSWERWhy it was appointed: After the Janata Party came to power in 1977, it appointed the Shah Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice J. C. Shah, to investigate the various excesses, irregularities and malpractices committed during the Emergency (1975–77) and to fix responsibility for them.Its findings: The Commission found that the police and administration had not been able to function independently during the Emergency and had been turned into political instruments of the ruling party; the administration and the police had become vulnerable to political pressures. It recorded the large-scale preventive detention of people, the abuses of censorship, and the excesses of programmes such as the forced relocation, displacement and forced sterilisations that were concentrated mainly in northern States. The Commission’s report documented how extraordinary powers had been misused, underlining that the misuse of authority — not merely the constitutional provisions — was the deeper crisis of the period.
6. What reasons did the Government give for declaring a National Emergency in 1975?
ANSWEROn 25 June 1975 the government declared that there was a threat of internal disturbances and therefore invoked Article 352 of the Constitution, under which an emergency could be declared on grounds of external threat or a threat of internal disturbance.The government argued that a grave crisis had arisen which made the proclamation of a state of emergency necessary. It pointed to the call by Jayaprakash Narayan for a nationwide satyagraha for Indira Gandhi’s resignation, and his appeal to the army, the police and government employees not to obey “illegal and immoral orders”. The government claimed that such actions threatened to bring the normal functioning of the government to a standstill and amounted to a threat of internal disturbance, justifying the use of the special emergency powers provided by the Constitution.
7. The 1977 elections for the first time saw the Opposition coming into power at the Centre. What would you consider as the reasons for this development?
ANSWERReferendum on the Emergency: the 1977 elections turned into a referendum on the experience of the Emergency, especially in north India where its impact was felt most strongly. The opposition fought on the slogan of ‘save democracy’, and the people’s verdict went decisively against the non-democratic character of the rule and its excesses.Excesses of the Emergency: the mass arrests, press censorship, forced sterilisations and forced relocations created deep resentment, particularly among the people of the northern States.Unity of the opposition: the major opposition parties merged to form the Janata Party under JP’s leadership. This ensured that the non-Congress votes were not divided, which had earlier worked against the opposition.Symbol of restoration: Jayaprakash Narayan became the popular symbol of the restoration of democracy, giving the opposition a credible and respected leadership.Long-term social change: in north India the middle and backward castes were moving away from the Congress, and the Janata Party became a platform for these sections to come together. Hence the 1977 verdict was not only about the Emergency but also about deeper changes in political competition.
8. Discuss the effects of Emergency on the following aspects of our polity.
• Effects on civil liberties for citizens.• Impact on relationship between the Executive and Judiciary• Functioning of Mass Media• Working of the Police and Bureaucracy.
ANSWEREffects on civil liberties of citizens: the Fundamental Rights of citizens stood suspended, including the right to move the courts to restore their rights. The government made extensive use of preventive detention, arresting people on the mere apprehension that they might commit an offence; detainees could not even challenge their arrest through habeas corpus. This made citizens deeply aware of the value of civil liberties, and many civil liberties organisations came up after the experience.Impact on Executive–Judiciary relations: the Emergency followed a long conflict over whether Parliament could amend Fundamental Rights (the Kesavananda Bharati case and the supersession of judges to appoint Justice A. N. Ray). During the Emergency, the Supreme Court in April 1976 over-ruled the High Courts and accepted the government’s plea that even the right to life and liberty could be taken away — one of its most controversial judgments. An amendment also barred courts from hearing election disputes of the PM, President and Vice-President. The judiciary’s failure to protect civil liberties led it to take a more active protective role afterwards.Functioning of Mass Media: the freedom of the press was suspended and press censorship was imposed; newspapers had to get prior approval for all material. Some papers (Indian Express, Statesman) protested by leaving blank spaces, magazines like Seminar and Mainstream chose to close down, and many journalists were arrested. Underground newsletters were circulated to bypass censorship.Working of the Police and Bureaucracy: the actual implementation of Emergency rule took place through the police and administration, which could not function independently and were turned into political instruments of the ruling party. According to the Shah Commission Report, the administration and the police became vulnerable to political pressures — a problem that did not vanish even after the Emergency.
9. In what way did the imposition of Emergency affect the party system in India? Elaborate your answer with examples.
ANSWERThe Emergency brought far-reaching and lasting changes to India’s party system:End of Congress dominance: for the first time since Independence the Congress was defeated in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections; it won only 154 seats and its share of votes fell below 35 per cent. This broke the ‘Congress system’ of one-party dominance.Rise of a non-Congress alternative: the major opposition parties — the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the Congress (O), the Bharatiya Lok Dal, the Socialist Party and others — merged to form the Janata Party, which won 295 seats and formed the first non-Congress government at the Centre. Non-Congressism became a major force.Change in the Congress’s character: from 1969 the Congress had been shedding its umbrella character; it now identified with one ideology and depended heavily on the appeal of a single leader, Indira Gandhi, and on sharp social and ideological divisions.Politics of backward castes: in an indirect way the issue of welfare of the backward classes began to dominate politics after 1977; many northern States elected non-Congress governments led by backward-caste leaders, and the Mandal Commission was later appointed by the Janata government.Thus the elections after the Emergency set off a dramatic transformation in the party system, moving India away from single-party dominance.
10. Read the passage and answer the questions below:
Indian democracy was never so close to a two-party system as it was during the 1977 elections. However, the next few years saw a complete change. Soon after its defeat, the Indian National Congress split into two groups… … … The Janata Party also went through major convulsions… — David Butler, Ashok Lahiri and Prannoy Roy. — Partha Chatterjee(a) What made the party system in India look like a two-party system in 1977?(b) Many more than two parties existed in 1977. Why then are the authors describing this period as close to a two-party system?(c) What caused splits in Congress and the Janata parties?
ANSWER(a) In 1977 the major opposition parties merged to form a single party, the Janata Party. The contest at the national level thus became essentially a straight fight between two camps — the Congress on one side and the Janata Party (with its allies) on the other — which made the system look like a two-party system.(b) Although many parties existed, the authors describe the period as close to a two-party system because the non-Congress parties had come together under the single banner of the Janata Party and the non-Congress vote was not divided. With effectively two large blocs contesting for power, the competition resembled a two-party contest even though several parties were present within the Janata fold.(c) The Janata Party split because it lacked direction, leadership and a common programme; it was held together mainly by opposition to the Emergency, and once that glue weakened, the power struggle among its leaders broke it apart, bringing down the Morarji Desai and then the Charan Singh governments. The Congress had earlier split because of differences within the party over the leadership and ideology of Indira Gandhi, and it split again after its 1977 defeat as leaders disagreed over the way forward.
Extra Practice Questions
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. On what ground did the Allahabad High Court declare Indira Gandhi’s election invalid?
ANSWEROn 12 June 1975 Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court, deciding an election petition filed by the socialist leader Raj Narain, declared Indira Gandhi’s 1971 Lok Sabha election invalid on the ground that she had used the services of government servants in her election campaign. Legally, she was no longer an MP and could not remain Prime Minister unless re-elected within six months.
Q2. What was the Railway Strike of 1974?
ANSWERIn May 1974 the employees of the Railways, India’s largest public sector undertaking, went on a nationwide strike under the National Coordination Committee for Railwaymen’s Struggle led by George Fernandes, demanding bonus and better service conditions. The government declared the strike illegal, arrested leaders and deployed the territorial army; the strike was called off after twenty days without any settlement.
Q3. What was the call for ‘Total Revolution’?
ANSWERDuring the Bihar movement of 1974, Jayaprakash Narayan gave a call for ‘Total Revolution’ (Sampoorna Kranti) — a wide-ranging change in the social, economic and political spheres aimed at establishing what he considered to be true democracy. He demanded the dismissal of the Congress government in Bihar and gave the movement a national, non-violent character.
Q4. What is preventive detention and how was it used during the Emergency?
ANSWERPreventive detention means arresting and detaining people not because they have committed an offence but on the apprehension that they might commit one. During the Emergency the government made large-scale arrests using preventive detention laws; detained persons could not challenge their arrest through habeas corpus petitions, and the government even claimed it was unnecessary to inform them of the grounds of arrest.
Q5. What was the verdict of the 1977 Lok Sabha elections?
ANSWERFor the first time since Independence, the Congress was defeated in the Lok Sabha elections, winning only 154 seats with under 35 per cent of the vote. The Janata Party and its allies won 330 of the 542 seats (the Janata Party itself winning 295). Indira Gandhi lost from Rae Bareli and her son Sanjay Gandhi from Amethi, though the Congress retained strength in the southern States.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. Explain the economic and political background that led to the proclamation of the Emergency in 1975.
ANSWERDespite the 1971 ‘garibi hatao’ slogan, economic conditions worsened after 1971–72. The Bangladesh crisis strained the economy as about eight million refugees crossed over, the U.S. stopped aid after the war, and international oil prices soared. Prices rose by 23 per cent in 1973 and 30 per cent in 1974, industrial growth was low, unemployment high, government salaries were frozen, and failed monsoons in 1972–73 cut food-grain output by 8 per cent. This discontent fuelled the Gujarat and Bihar movements and the Railway Strike of 1974. Politically, party competition turned bitter and personalised; the government clashed with the judiciary over amending Fundamental Rights (the Kesavananda Bharati case and the supersession of judges). The climax came when the Allahabad High Court declared Indira Gandhi’s election invalid and JP launched a satyagraha for her resignation, asking the army, police and officials not to obey “illegal and immoral orders”. Citing a threat of internal disturbance, the government invoked Article 352 and proclaimed the Emergency on 25 June 1975.
Q2. What were the main lessons of the Emergency for Indian democracy?
ANSWERThe Emergency brought out both the weaknesses and the strengths of India’s democracy. First, although some believed India had ceased to be democratic, normal democratic functioning resumed within a short time, showing that it is extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India. Secondly, the experience exposed ambiguities in the emergency provision, which have since been rectified: an ‘internal’ emergency can now be proclaimed only on the ground of ‘armed rebellion’, and the advice to the President must be given in writing by the Union Cabinet. Thirdly, it made everyone more aware of the value of civil liberties; the courts became more active in protecting them and many civil liberties organisations emerged. The 1977 verdict also reiterated a key principle — governments perceived to be anti-democratic are severely punished by voters — thereby strengthening the foundations of democracy. At the same time, the period raised unresolved questions about the correct balance between routine government functioning and the right to protest, and about preventing the police and administration from becoming political instruments.
Q3. Describe the conflict between the government and the judiciary that preceded the Emergency.
ANSWERIn the years before the Emergency, three constitutional issues sharpened the conflict between Parliament and the judiciary. The Supreme Court held that Parliament could not abridge Fundamental Rights; that it could not curtail the right to property by amendment; and it rejected the provision allowing Parliament to abridge Fundamental Rights to give effect to Directive Principles. This conflict culminated in the famous Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), where the Court ruled that there are some basic features of the Constitution that Parliament cannot amend. Two further developments deepened the tension: in 1973 the government set aside the seniority of three judges and appointed Justice A. N. Ray as Chief Justice, since the superseded judges had ruled against the government — raising talk of a ‘committed’ judiciary and bureaucracy. The confrontation climaxed when the Allahabad High Court declared Indira Gandhi’s election invalid, and during the Emergency the Supreme Court itself accepted the government’s plea that the right to life and liberty could be suspended — one of its most controversial judgments.
MCQs & Assertion–Reason
1. The Emergency of 1975 was proclaimed under which Article of the Constitution?
For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.
A-R 1. Assertion: The 1977 elections turned into a referendum on the Emergency.
Reason: The opposition fought the election on the slogan of ‘save democracy’, and voters reacted against the excesses of the Emergency.
A-R 2. Assertion: The Emergency of 1975 was declared because of deteriorating economic conditions.
Reason: The government invoked Article 352 citing a threat of internal disturbance.
A-R 3. Assertion: During the Emergency, the police and bureaucracy could not function independently.
Reason: They were turned into political instruments of the ruling party and became vulnerable to political pressures.
A-R 4. Assertion: The Janata Party government was very stable and long-lasting.
Reason: The Janata Party was held together mainly by its opposition to the Emergency and lacked a common programme.
A-R 5. Assertion: After the Emergency, the emergency provision in the Constitution was amended.
Reason: An ‘internal’ emergency can now be proclaimed only on the ground of ‘armed rebellion’ and the Cabinet’s advice must be given in writing.
Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(A), 4-(D), 5-(A).
Exam Tips & Common Mistakes
How to score full marks in this chapter
Fix the chronology firmly: economic distress → Gujarat & Bihar movements (1974) → Railway Strike (1974) → judiciary conflict & Kesavananda Bharati (1973) → Allahabad verdict (12 June 1975) → Emergency (25 June 1975) → 1977 elections → Janata government → 1980 mid-term polls. Quote exact facts — Article 352, ‘internal disturbance’, Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha, Raj Narain’s petition, the 42nd Amendment, the Shah Commission and the seat figures (Congress 154, Janata 295). For ‘effects of Emergency’ answers, use the textbook’s four headings (civil liberties, executive–judiciary, mass media, police & bureaucracy). For the lessons, mention both the strengths and weaknesses the Emergency revealed.
Common mistakes to avoid
Saying the Emergency was declared on grounds of economic crisis — the official ground was ‘internal disturbance’ under Article 352.
Confusing the dates — the Allahabad verdict was 12 June 1975 and the Emergency was proclaimed on 25 June 1975.
Crediting ‘garibi hatao’ to JP — it was Indira Gandhi’s 1971 slogan; JP gave the call for ‘Total Revolution’.
Treating the Shah Commission as a cause of the Emergency — it was appointed afterwards (1977) to inquire into its excesses.
Writing that ‘all’ fundamental rights were permanently abolished — rights were suspended/restricted during the Emergency, not abolished.
Forgetting that the Congress remained strong in the southern States in 1977 — the wave was strongest in north India.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chapter 6 of Class 12 Political Science (Politics in India Since Independence) about?
Chapter 6, The Crisis of Democratic Order, deals with the Emergency of 1975–77: its economic and political background, the Gujarat and Bihar movements, the Railway Strike of 1974, the conflict with the judiciary, the Allahabad High Court verdict against Indira Gandhi, the proclamation and consequences of the Emergency, the 1977 elections, the Janata government, and the lasting lessons for Indian democracy.
Why was the Emergency of 1975 declared?
The government invoked Article 352 on 25 June 1975 on the ground of a threat of ‘internal disturbance’. It pointed to Jayaprakash Narayan’s call for a nationwide satyagraha for Indira Gandhi’s resignation and his appeal to the army, police and officials not to obey “illegal and immoral orders”, which it claimed threatened to bring the government to a standstill.
What happened in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections?
The 1977 elections became a referendum on the Emergency. For the first time since Independence the Congress was defeated, winning only 154 seats, while the Janata Party (with allies) won 330 of 542 seats and formed the first non-Congress government at the Centre under Morarji Desai.
