Which of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution empowers the president to declare a national emergency when the security of India or a part of it is threatened by war or external aggression or armed rebellion?

The correct answer is Article 352.

Key Points

• Article 352 of the Indian Constitution deals with the proclamation of Emergency.
• The President can declare a national emergency when the security of India or a part of it is threatened by war, external aggression, or armed rebellion.
• Such a proclamation can be made even before the actual occurrence of war, external aggression, or armed rebellion.
• The emergency provisions are contained in Part XVIII of the Constitution, from Articles 352 to 360.

Important Points

• The President must act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet while proclaiming an emergency.
• The emergency must be approved by both houses of Parliament within one month.
• An emergency can be declared for a part of the country or the whole country.
• During an emergency, the federal structure of the country becomes unitary, and the central government assumes greater control over the states.

Additional Information

• Article 331: Article 331 provides for the representation of the Anglo-Indian community in the House of the People.
• Article 360: Article 360 deals with the power of the President to proclaim a financial emergency.
• Article 356: Article 356 deals with the imposition of President's Rule in states on account of the failure of constitutional machinery.