The reasons were:

(i) Internal disturbances and agitations in the country.

(ii) Grave crises had arisen which made the proclamation necessary.

(iii) Political mood of the country had turned hostile.

Consequences:

(i) According to Shah Commission nearly one lakh eleven thousand people were arrested under Preventive detention laws.

(ii) Torture and custodial deaths occurred, arbitrary relocation of poor people and compulsory sterilization.

(iii) Democratic functioning were suspended and draconian measures were adopted.

OR

Three factors which were responsible for Indira Gandhi’s achieving a thumping majority in 1971 Lok Sabha elections are:

(i) She focused on the growth of the public sector and imposed ceiling on rural land holdings and urban property.

(ii) Through ‘Garibi Hatao’ she had generated a support base among the disadvantaged, Dalits, Adivasis and minorities.

(iii) The crisis in East Pakistan and Indo-Pak war leading to the establishment of Bangladesh had shown characteristic features of statesman and strong nationalist leader.

The Lessons:

(i)Extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India.

(ii)It brought out some ambiguities regarding the emergency provision in the constitution that have been rectified.

(i) The popular slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’.

(ii) Nationalisation of Banks.

(iii) Abolition of Privy Purse.

Due to the following reasons the emergency became controversial.

(i) The Constitution simply mentioned internal disturbance as the reason for declaring emergency. Before 1975 emergency was never proclaimed on this ground.

(ii) People had the right to politically protest against the government. The Bihar and Gujarat agitation were mostly peaceful and non-violent. Those who were arrested were never tried for any anti-national activity.

(iii) The Home ministry, which is entrusted with the responsibility of
monitoring the external situation of the country, also did not express any concern about the law and order situation in the country.

(iv) There was no need to suspend democratic functioning and use draconian measures like the emergency.

Elements of growing consensus
(i) Agreement on new economic policies : Most parties were in support of the new economic policies and believed that these policies would lead the country to prosperity and a status of economic power in the world.

(ii) Acceptance of the political and social claims of the backward castes : Political parties had recognized that the social and political claims of the Backward Castes need to be accepted and support reservation of seats for OBC in education and employment.

(iii) Acceptance of the role of State level parties in governance of the country: State level parties were sharing power at the national level and had played a central role in the country’s politics.

(iv) Emphasis on pragmatic considerations rather than ideological positions and political alliances without ideological agreement as most parties of the NDA did not agree with the ‘Hindutava’ ideology of the BJP. Yet, they came together to form a government and remained in power for a full term.

Yes, the declaration of Emergency in 1975 was necessary.

 Arguments:

 (i) Internal disturbances and agitations in the country.

 (ii) Grave crises had arisen which made the proclamation necessary.

 (iii) Political mood of the country had turned hostile.

                                                                                      Or
Lesson learnt from Emergency:

 (i) One lesson of Emergency is that it is extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India.

(ii) It brought out some ambiguities regarding the Emergency provisions in the Constitution that have been rectified since.

(iii) Emergency made every one more aware of the value of civil liberties.