 The Indian Emergency of 25 June 1975 – 21 March 1977 was a 21-month period when President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, upon advice by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, declared a national emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution of India, effectively bestowing on her the power to rule by decree, suspending elections and civil liberties.It is one of the most controversial times in the history of independent India.On 23 January 1977, Mrs Indira Gandhi called elections for March and released all political prisoners.