Under Article 355 of the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the Union to :

1. Overview of Emergency Provisions (Part XVIII) (basic)

In the grand design of the Indian Constitution, Part XVIII (Articles 352 to 360) stands as a unique safety valve. These provisions are crafted to handle 'extraordinary situations' where the normal democratic machinery might falter. The core rationale behind these powers is to safeguard the sovereignty, unity, integrity, and security of the country, as well as the democratic political system itself Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Salient Features, p. 33. What makes the Indian system truly remarkable is that during an emergency, the federal structure transforms into a unitary one without a formal constitutional amendment—the Central government becomes all-powerful, and states come under its total control.

The Constitution envisages three distinct types of emergencies based on the nature of the crisis. National Emergency (Article 352) is declared due to war, external aggression, or armed rebellion. Financial Emergency (Article 360) occurs when the financial stability or credit of India is threatened. However, for our journey into President's Rule, the most critical anchor is the State Emergency (Article 356), which arises when there is a 'failure of constitutional machinery' in a state Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Salient Features, p. 33.

A pivotal but often overlooked article is Article 355. It explicitly imposes a dual duty on the Union: first, to protect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance; and second, to ensure that the government of every state is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 17, p. 178. This 'duty' serves as the constitutional justification for the Union to step in and impose President's Rule under Article 356 when a state government fails to adhere to constitutional norms.

Type of Emergency	Constitutional Article	Primary Ground
National Emergency	Article 352	War, External Aggression, or Armed Rebellion
President's Rule	Article 356 & 365	Failure of Constitutional Machinery in a State
Financial Emergency	Article 360	Threat to Financial Stability/Credit of India

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Salient Features of the Constitution, p.33; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 17: Emergency Provisions, p.178

2. National Emergency: Grounds and Terminology (intermediate)

To understand why the Center can intervene in state affairs, we must start with Article 355. This article is the 'bedrock' of emergency provisions. It doesn't just grant a power; it imposes a dual duty on the Union: to protect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance, and to ensure that the government of every state is carried on in accordance with the Constitution Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 17, p.178. This article serves as the constitutional justification for the Union to step in when a state's machinery falters. Under Article 352, the President can declare a National Emergency if the security of India or any part of it is threatened. The grounds for this are specific: War, External Aggression, or Armed Rebellion. Interestingly, the President does not have to wait for the first shot to be fired; if she or he is satisfied that there is an imminent danger, a proclamation can be issued even before the actual occurrence of these events Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 17, p.173. The terminology we use today was heavily refined by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978. This amendment was a 'corrective' measure to prevent the executive overreach seen in the mid-1970s. It replaced the vague term 'internal disturbance' with the more precise 'armed rebellion' and tightened the parliamentary oversight timeline Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), Procedure for Amendment, p.199.

Feature	Pre-1978 (Original)	Post-44th Amendment (1978)
Internal Ground	Internal Disturbance	Armed Rebellion
Approval Window	Two Months	One Month
Duration	Indefinite once approved	6 months (requires periodic renewal)

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.), Chapter 17: Emergency Provisions, p.173, 174, 178; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), Procedure for Amendment, p.199

3. Administrative Relations: Union Directions to States (intermediate)

In our federal setup, while States enjoy autonomy, the Union acts as a 'watchdog' to ensure the nation runs as a cohesive unit. This is anchored in Article 355, which imposes a crucial dual duty on the Union: first, to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance, and second, to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 17, p. 178. This second duty provides the ultimate justification for the Union to step in when a State's constitutional machinery falters.

To fulfill this duty, the Union is empowered to issue administrative directions to the States even during normal times. These aren't just suggestions; they are constitutional mandates. Under Article 256, States must ensure compliance with laws made by Parliament. Article 257 further expands this, allowing the Union to direct States to ensure their executive actions don't interfere with the Union's power, and specifically to maintain means of communication of national or military importance and to protect railways within the State D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Chapter: Distribution of Legislative and Executive Powers, p. 381.

Beyond infrastructure, these directions extend to social welfare and minority rights. For instance, the Union can issue directions regarding the welfare of Scheduled Tribes (Article 339) and the provision of mother-tongue instruction at the primary level for linguistic minorities (Article 350A). If a State fails to comply with any of these directions, Article 365 comes into play—it allows the President to hold that a situation has arisen where the State government cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution, effectively opening the door for President's Rule.

Article	Subject Matter of Union Direction
256	Ensuring State compliance with Central/Parliamentary laws.
257	Protection of Railways and maintenance of national communications.
339(2)	Drawing/execution of schemes for Scheduled Tribes' welfare.
350A	Instruction in mother-tongue for linguistic minority children.

Sources: Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 17: Emergency Provisions, p.178; D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Distribution of Legislative and Executive Powers, p.381

4. President's Rule: Article 356 and its Scope (intermediate)

To understand the President’s Rule, we must first look at Article 355, which acts as the constitutional 'justification' for the Union's intervention in state affairs. It isn't just a power; it is a mandatory duty imposed on the Union to protect states from external aggression and internal disturbance, and—crucially—to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 17, p.178. When the Union determines that a state is failing in this constitutional duty, it invokes Article 356 to take over the state administration, a state of affairs popularly known as 'President's Rule'. There are two distinct grounds for the imposition of President’s Rule. Under Article 356, the President can act if satisfied (either via a Governor’s report or otherwise) that the state government cannot function according to the Constitution. However, Article 365 provides a second trigger: if a state fails to comply with or give effect to any direction from the Union, it is legally deemed a failure of constitutional machinery Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 17, p.178. This creates a powerful hierarchy where the Union ensures national integrity and constitutional adherence. Because this power was historically prone to political misuse, the Supreme Court in the landmark S.R. Bommai case (1994) established strict safeguards. The Court ruled that the President’s 'satisfaction' is not beyond question; it is subject to judicial review. The Union must prove that 'relevant material' existed to justify the takeover. Furthermore, a highly critical procedural rule was established: the Legislative Assembly cannot be dissolved until the Proclamation is approved by both Houses of Parliament Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, Chapter 11, p.419. If the court finds the proclamation invalid, it has the power to restore the dismissed government and the dissolved assembly.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 17: Emergency Provisions, p.178; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, Chapter 11: The Union Executive, p.419

5. Scheduled Areas and Tribal Governance (intermediate)

To understand tribal governance, we must start with the identification of these communities. Interestingly, the Constitution does not provide a fixed definition for 'Scheduled Castes' or 'Scheduled Tribes.' Instead, under Articles 341 and 342, the President is empowered to specify which communities carry these labels in a particular State or Union Territory. While the President issues the initial notification after consulting the Governor of the state, any subsequent inclusion or exclusion of a tribe from that list can only be done by Parliament through law Indian Polity, Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes, p. 556. This ensures that changes to these sensitive lists are debated in the national legislature rather than being left to executive discretion alone Introduction to the Constitution of India, Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, p. 457.

The governance of these areas is distinct because of their unique socio-cultural fabric. Under Article 244, the Constitution provides for the Fifth Schedule (for Scheduled Areas in most states) and the Sixth Schedule (for tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram). In Fifth Schedule areas, the Governor plays a pivotal role, often acting as a bridge between tribal interests and state legislation, and can even direct that a specific Act of Parliament or the State Legislature shall not apply to a Scheduled Area Introduction to the Constitution of India, Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, p. 459. Additionally, Article 164 mandates that states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha must have a dedicated Minister in charge of tribal welfare, ensuring that tribal interests are represented at the highest levels of state executive power.

In the broader context of Article 355, the Union has a 'duty' to ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. This includes following these specific mandates for tribal protection. If a State consistently ignores these constitutional safeguards or fails to implement the special administrative machinery required for Scheduled Areas, it could theoretically be interpreted as a failure of constitutional machinery, potentially invoking the Union's interventionist powers Indian Polity, Emergency Provisions, p. 178.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Special Provisions Relating to Certain Classes, p.556; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.), Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, p.457, 459; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth (7th ed.), Emergency Provisions, p.178

6. Article 355: The Union's Duty of Protection (exam-level)

Welcome back! As we approach the final stages of mastering President’s Rule, we must look at the legal foundation that justifies such a drastic step. This brings us to Article 355. Think of Article 355 not as a power, but as a solemn obligation. While the Indian Constitution is federal, it places a unique burden on the Union government to act as the ultimate guardian of the nation’s integrity and the Constitution’s supremacy.

According to Article 355, the Union has a dual duty toward every State. First, it must protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance. Second, and most critically for our study of President's Rule, it must ensure that the government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Chapter 17, p. 178. This second limb is the "constitutional peg" upon which Article 356 hangs. It provides the legal justification for the Union to intervene when the constitutional machinery in a state breaks down.

It is vital to distinguish between the duty (Art 355) and the remedy (Art 356). While Article 356 allows the President to take over the state administration, it is Article 355 that explains why the Union has the right to do so in the first place. Without Article 355, the imposition of President’s Rule might be seen as an arbitrary invasion of state autonomy. However, because of this article, such intervention is framed as the Union simply performing its mandatory duty to uphold the Constitution D.D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Chapter 11, p. 225.

Feature	Article 355	Article 356
Nature	A mandatory duty/obligation of the Union.	A discretionary power/remedy of the President.
Scope	Includes protection from external threats and internal disturbances.	Specifically addresses the failure of constitutional machinery.
Role	The justification for intervention.	The act of intervention itself.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Chapter 17: Emergency Provisions, p.178; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, Chapter 11: The Union Executive, p.225

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the Emergency Provisions and the dynamics of Union-State relations, this question tests your ability to identify the "constitutional justification" for the Union's intervention in state affairs. While students often focus on the mechanics of Article 356 (President’s Rule), Article 355 is the foundational duty that makes such an intervention possible. It acts as the legal bridge, ensuring that the Union is not merely an observer but a protector of the federal units. As highlighted in Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, this article imposes a specific dual obligation on the Union to maintain the integrity and constitutional order of the states.

To arrive at the correct answer, Option (A), you must focus on the precise constitutional language. Article 355 explicitly mentions the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance. The logic is simple: before the Union can exercise the power to dismiss a state government under Article 356, it must have a prior constitutional duty to ensure that the provisions of the Constitution are being followed. Think of Article 355 as the 'Why' and Article 356 as the 'How.'

UPSC frequently uses procedural traps by confusing a "duty" with a "consequence." Options (B) and (C) describe the extension of executive power and the exercise of legislative authority by Parliament; however, these are results of a proclamation of Emergency, not the primary duty defined in Article 355. Option (D) is a complete distractor, as the inclusion or exclusion of Scheduled Castes or Tribes is governed by Articles 341 and 342, which are entirely unrelated to emergency duties. According to Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, distinguishing between the Union's protective obligations and its subsequent emergency powers is vital for clinical accuracy in the Prelims.