Question

Assertion (A): The declaration of National Emergency in India on June 25, 1975, brought about an extreme centralization of political power.
Reason (R): Under the constitutional provisions of an Emergency, the federal distribution of powers remains fully operational, and state assemblies function independently of central executive directives.

• A. \( \text{Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).} \)
• B. \( \text{Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).} \)
• C. \( \text{A) is true but (R) is false.} \)
• D. \( \text{A) is false but (R) is true.} \)

Hint:

If you spot an assertion or reason statement that contradicts basic NCERT political facts, you can skip checking the logical connection entirely. If (R) is false, Option (C) is automatically the only possible correct path.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Assertion-Reason questions require evaluating whether each statement is independently true or false before looking at the logical connection between them.

Step 1: Evaluate the historical accuracy of the Assertion statement. The statement in Assertion (A) is historically accurate. The invocation of Article 352 in June 1975 suspended fundamental rights and centralized political decision-making in the hands of the central executive and the Prime Minister's Office. Thus, (A) is True.

Step 2: Evaluate the constitutional validity of the Reason statement. The statement in Reason (R) is constitutionally incorrect. Once a National Emergency is declared, the federal framework transitions structurally into a unitary format. The union government gains the power to issue executive directives to state governments, and Parliament can legislate on subjects within the State List. Thus, (R) is False.