The correct answer is: B. 356
Article 356 of the Indian Constitution deals with the failure of constitutional machinery in a state. It empowers the President of India to declare a state of emergency in a state if he is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
The President can make such a declaration on the basis of a report from the Governor of the state or on his own initiative. Once a state of emergency has been declared, the President can assume to himself all or any of the functions of the state government and can also suspend the operation of the Constitution in the state.
The President can also declare that the powers of the legislature of the state shall be exercised by Parliament. A state of emergency can be continued for a maximum period of six months, but it can be extended for a further period of six months by Parliament.
The power to declare a state of emergency is a very drastic power and it should be used only in exceptional circumstances. The President should not use this power to interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the state government. The power should be used only to restore the constitutional machinery in the state and to ensure that the government of the state is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
The other options are incorrect because they do not deal with the failure of constitutional machinery in a state. Article 352 deals with a national emergency, Article 360 deals with a financial emergency, and Article 350 deals with the provision for special officers in certain states.