Constitutional Amendments

Choose the Correct Answer

Correct Answer : Option b

Explanation
Statement I is correct: The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 changed the term "internal disturbance" with "armed rebellion" as grounds for declaring a national emergency under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution. This was done as the term “internal disturbance” was vague and had a wider connotation, which had been used to proclaim national emergency in 1975.

Statement II is correct: As stated in the last sentence, the national emergency declared in 1975 was indeed proclaimed on the grounds of "internal disturbance." This declaration, often referred to as the "Emergency," lasted for 21 months and saw a significant curtailment of civil liberties.

The primary cause of replacing the term “internal disturbance” was its vague connotation. It was misused in 1975 to declare emergency on malafide grounds. So the primary reason was the vagueness, not the proclamation of emergency in 1975 itself(just the outcome). Based on this both the statements are correct but Statement-II is not the exactof Statement-I. So, the correct answer is (b).