Which one of the following is not a lesson learnt from emergency?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → The President can proclaim Emergency without approval of the Union cabinet in writing.

Option (1) It brought out some ambiguities regarding the Emergency provision in the Constitution. A lesson (Incorrect). This was the second lesson; the ambiguities have been rectified since.

Option (2) The Emergency made everyone more aware of the value of civil liberties A lesson (Incorrect). This was the third lesson; the courts too have taken an active role in protecting civil liberties.

Option (3) The President can proclaim Emergency without approval of the Union cabinet in writing. Not a lesson (Correct). After the Emergency the rule became the opposite: the advice to the President to proclaim Emergency must be given in writing by the Union Cabinet, and internal Emergency can be proclaimed only on the ground of ‘armed rebellion’.

Option (4) It is difficult to do away with democracy in India A lesson (Incorrect). This was the first lesson: normal democratic functioning resumed within a short span of time.

NCERT (2025-26): “Lessons of the Emergency … The Emergency at once brought out both the weaknesses and the strengths of India’s democracy. Though there are many observers who think that India ceased to be democratic during the Emergency, it is noteworthy that normal democratic functioning resumed within a short span of time. Thus, one lesson of Emergency is that it is extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India. Secondly, it brought out some ambiguities regarding the Emergency provision in the Constitution that have been rectified since. Now, ‘internal’ Emergency can be proclaimed only on the grounds of ‘armed rebellion’ and it is necessary that the advice to the President to proclaim Emergency must be given in writing by the Union Cabinet. Thirdly, the Emergency made everyone more aware of the value of civil liberties.…”