Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas Observed Across India to Mark 50 Years Since the Emergency

June 24, 2026 : Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas is being observed across the country today to mark the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the National Emergency imposed on 25 June 1975. The day serves as a reminder of one of the most significant periods in India’s democratic history, when constitutional freedoms were curtailed and several fundamental rights were suspended.

On 25 June 1975, the then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed proclaimed a National Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution, citing threats arising from internal disturbances. The Emergency was declared amid political unrest and judicial developments that had challenged the legitimacy of the government led by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Following the proclamation, the Union Government assumed extensive executive powers, leading to greater central control over governance. Several constitutional safeguards were suspended during the Emergency. Under Article 358, the freedoms guaranteed under Article 19, including freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly, and movement, were restricted. Citizens were also deprived of the right to seek judicial remedies for violations of these rights.

The period also witnessed strict pre-censorship of newspapers and the abolition of the Press Council of India, the statutory body established to safeguard press freedom. Constitutional amendments enacted during the Emergency further restricted judicial review by preventing courts from questioning the President’s proclamation of Emergency and excluding the elections of the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from judicial scrutiny.

To commemorate the completion of 50 years since the Emergency, the Ministry of Culture is organising the closing ceremony of its year-long commemorative programmes in New Delhi today. The event includes the ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ and ‘Long Live Democracy’ exhibition, along with the screening of a short film titled ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will preside over the programme.