The correct answer is (a) Article 366(16).
Article 366(16) of the Indian Constitution defines the proclamation of emergency. It states that a Proclamation of Emergency may be issued by the President if he is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or armed rebellion.
The President can issue a Proclamation of Emergency only after the Union Cabinet has advised him to do so. The Proclamation must be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as possible after it is issued. It ceases to operate after a period of six months, unless it is approved by both Houses of Parliament.
The Proclamation of Emergency has far-reaching consequences. It enables the President to suspend the Fundamental Rights of citizens, to assume to himself all or any of the powers of the State Governments, and to deploy armed forces in any part of the country.
The Proclamation of Emergency has been used on several occasions in India’s history. The first Proclamation was issued in 1962, during the Sino-Indian War. The second Proclamation was issued in 1971, during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The third and most controversial Proclamation was issued in 1975, by Indira Gandhi, when she declared a state of Emergency in order to consolidate her power.
The Proclamation of Emergency has been a controversial issue in India. Some people argue that it is a necessary tool to deal with grave threats to the security of the country. Others argue that it is a dangerous tool that can be used to suppress dissent and undermine democracy.