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Article 356

President's Rule (Constitutional Emergency in States)

Article 356 of the Constitution empowers the President to assume the functions of a state government if the Governor reports (or the President is otherwise satisfied) that the constitutional machinery in the state has failed. It is popularly called "President's Rule" or "State Emergency."

Key details

Article 356(1): President issues a proclamation of state emergency on the basis of Governor's report or otherwise, if satisfied that state government cannot carry on in accordance with the Constitution.
Article 356(2): The proclamation can be revoked by a subsequent Presidential proclamation at any time — revocation does not require Parliamentary approval (unlike imposition, which requires Parliamentary approval within 2 months under Article 356(3)).
Duration: Initial proclamation lasts 2 months; can be extended by Parliament for 6 months at a time, up to a maximum of 3 years (with special conditions after 1 year — Article 356(4) and (5)).
Article 357: During President's Rule, Parliament can confer on the President the power to make laws for the state; laws made by Parliament or President for the state continue even after revocation until repealed.
Parliamentary approval: Both Houses must approve the proclamation within 2 months by simple majority. Unlike financial and national emergencies, no special majority is required for approval.
Manipur's 11th President's Rule is the highest for any state — a reflection of its recurring political instability and ethnic conflict history.