President’s Rule

Context : Four days after Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh resigned, the state was put under President's rule on Feb 13, 2025

  • This is the 11th time that President's Rule has been imposed in Manipur, the highest in any state.

What is the President 's Rule?

  • President Rule is a provision under Article 356 to be imposed in case of failure of Constitutional machinery in a state. In such a situation based on a report by the state's Governor, the President can issue President's Rule. Then, President can issue proclamation taking over
    • The functions of state government and Governor effectively transferring them to the Union government.
    • Transferring the powers of state Assembly to Parliament

NOTE

  • The President Cannot assume any of the powers vested in High Court
  • The President's proclamation must be laid before Parliament, and will expire in two months unless both Houses ratify it.
  • It may be renewed by Parliament every six months , for a maximum period of three years.
  • After the first year, renewal can take place under Certain Conditions of an Emergency being declared in the Country or the state, or the Election Commission declaring that State elections Cannot be held.
  • Article 356 does not list various specific circumstances under which President's Rule can be imposed, leaving it to judgement of the President and Union Council of ministers advising her, to satisfy that "situation has arisen in which the Government of state cannot be carried on in accordance with the Provisions of constitution" .
  • A Comprehensive assessment of President's Rule published by Lok Sabha Secretariat in 2016 listed situations in which it has been imposed, apart from militancy and law and order:
    • I. Defections by MLAs
    • II. Breakup of coalitions
    • III. Passing of no-confidence motions
    • IV. Resignations of chief ministers
    • V. Absence of Legislatures in newly formed states
    • VI. Public agitations leading to instability.

Imposition of President’s Rule in India

  • President's Rule has been imposed 135 times in 35 states and Union Territories.
  • The first instance was in June 1951 , in Punjab when the State's Chief Minister Gopichand Bhargava resigned due to internal differences in the Congress Party.
  • The only state which has spent more time under central control is J&K , which has had President Rule for 15 years with the longest continuous stints of more than six years each from 1990 to 1996 and from 2019 to 2024.
  • After Manipur , the most frequent imposition of President's Rule has been 10 times in Uttar Pradesh .
  • There have also been several instances of Article 356 being applied in cases where same party is in power at both centre and state, including Andhra Pradesh in 1973, Assam in 1981, Gujarat in 1974, Karnataka in 1990, now in Manipur in 2025

Various Governments Imposed President Rule

  • In 1977 , the newly elected Morarji Desai government imposed President's Rule on 9 Congress ruled States at one go, claiming that no-longer held the confidence of the electorate when Indira Gandhi returned power in 1980, she imposed the same in nine states.
  • Between 1950-1994 , President’s Rule imposed 100 times , an average of 2.5 times a year. Between 1994-2024 , imposed only 30 times that is once a year.
  • Since the Narendra Modi - led NDA government came to power in 2014, President's Rule has been imposed 11 times, including 4 in J&K. Of these, the courts have struck down the proclamation twice in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Though Manipur has been placed under President Rule it’s assembly has not been dissolved, Instead, it has been kept under suspended animation ; when the Assembly in suspended animation, it can be revived whenever it becomes possible to form a popular government after revoking President's Rule.

Suspended Animation

  • Suspended animation of President’s Rule refers to a situation where President’s Rule is imposed, but the state assembly is not dissolved immediately . Instead, it is kept in a suspended state so that it can be revived later if necessary.