Emergency Powers — Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs Connections
Supreme Court's Observations on Misuse of Central Agencies During COVID-19
March 2024The Supreme Court's recent observations about the potential misuse of central investigative agencies have reignited debates about 'undeclared emergency' - a situation where emergency-like effects are achieved without formally declaring emergency. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the central government used various legal frameworks to manage the crisis without invoking Article 352, demonstrating how modern governance can handle crises through existing mechanisms. However, critics argue that the increased use of agencies like ED, CBI, and IT Department against opposition leaders creates an atmosphere similar to emergency without the constitutional safeguards that formal emergency declaration would trigger. This development is significant for UPSC as it represents the evolution of emergency-like powers in the contemporary context, showing how the spirit of emergency provisions can be invoked without their formal declaration.
UPSC Angle: Questions may focus on the difference between formal emergency and 'undeclared emergency', the role of central agencies in federal structure, and the balance between legitimate law enforcement and political misuse.
Manipur Violence and Demands for President's Rule
July 2024The ethnic violence in Manipur that began in May 2023 and continued through 2024 led to significant political demands for the imposition of President's Rule in the state. Opposition parties argued that the state government had failed to maintain law and order and protect citizens, creating grounds for Article 356. However, the Centre refrained from imposing President's Rule, instead providing additional security forces and maintaining that the state government was functioning according to constitutional provisions. This situation provides a contemporary example of the political and constitutional considerations involved in deciding whether to impose President's Rule. The case illustrates the S.R. Bommai guidelines in practice, showing how the mere breakdown of law and order is not sufficient ground for President's Rule if the constitutional machinery is still functioning.
UPSC Angle: UPSC may test understanding of the grounds for President's Rule, the difference between law and order breakdown and constitutional breakdown, and the political considerations in emergency declarations.