InIndia,President's rule is the suspension of state government and imposition of directUnion government rule in astate. Under Article 356 of theConstitution of India, if astate government is unable to function according to Constitutional provisions, the Union government can take direct control of the state machinery. Subsequently, executive authority is exercised through the centrally appointedgovernor, who has the authority to appoint other administrators to assist them. The administrators are usually nonpartisan retiredcivil servants not native to the state.
When a state government is functioning correctly, it is run by an elected Council of Ministers responsible to the state's legislative assembly (Vidhan Sabha). The council is led by thechief minister, who is the chief executive of the state; the Governor is only a constitutional head. However, during President's rule, the Council of Ministers is dissolved, later on vacating the office of Chief Minister. Furthermore, the Vidhan Sabha is eitherprorogued ordissolved, necessitating a new election.
Prior to 2019, theconstitution of the state ofJammu and Kashmir had a similar system ofGovernor's rule, under its Section 92. The state's governor issued a proclamation, after obtaining the consent of thePresident of India allowing Governor's rule for up to six months after which President's rule under Article 356 of the Constitution of India could be imposed. After therevocation ofArticle 370, President's rule applies to Jammu and Kashmir under section 73 (since Article 356 of Constitution of India does not apply to union territories) ofJammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
Following the 1994 landmark judgment inS. R. Bommai v. Union of India, theSupreme Court of India restricted arbitrary impositions of President's rule.
Chhattisgarh andTelangana are the only states where the President's rule has never been imposed so far.[1]Manipur is the state where it has been invoked the most frequently, currently under the rule since February 2025 for the eleventh time.[2] The President's rule in force in Manipur since February was extended for a further six month with effect from 13 August 2025.[3]
In practice, President's rule has been imposed in a State under any one of the following different circumstances:
If approved by both Houses, President's rule can continue for 6 months. It can be extended for a maximum of 3 years with the approval of the Parliament done every 6 months; however in extreme rare cases it can be extended repeatedly if theElection Commission of India recommends that elections are not possible. If theLok Sabha is dissolved during this time, the rule is valid for 30 days from the first sitting of the new Lok Sabha provided that this continuance has already been approved byRajya Sabha. The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 introduced a new provision to put a restraint on the power of Parliament to extend the President's rule in a state. According to this provision, the president's rule can only be extended over a year, under the following conditions:
President's rule can be revoked at any time by the President and does not need Parliament's approval.
Until the mid-1990s, President's rule was often imposed in states through the abuse of authority of Governors who were in collusion with the Union government. The Supreme Court of India in March 1994 established a precedent inS. R. Bommai v. Union of India, due to which such abuse has been drastically reduced.
Article 356 is not applicable to Union territories, so there are many ways by which President's rule can be imposed in different Union territories with a Legislative Assembly.
Until therevocation of special status andbifurcation into two Union territories, President's rule applied after the application of Governor's rule under theerstwhile state's constitution for 6 months.
After the revocation and bifurcation, the reorganized union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is subject to the section 73 of theJammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, which is used to impose President's rule as the Article 356 is not applicable to Union Territories. The provision states:
73. If the President, on receipt of a report from the Lieutenant Governor of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, or otherwise, is satisfied,—
(a) that a situation has arisen in which the administration of the Union territoryof Jammu and Kashmir cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of thisAct, or
(b) that for the proper administration of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir itis necessary or expedient so to do,
the President may, by order, suspend the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Actfor such period as he thinks fit and makes such incidental and consequential provisions as
may appear to him to be necessary or expedient for administering the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
In NCT of Delhi, President's rule is applied on the basis of Article 239AB of the Constitution of India (as the Article 356 is not applicable to Union Territories) which reads thus:
239AB. – If the President, on receipt of a report from the Lieutenant Governor or otherwise, is satisfied—
(a) that a situation has arisen in which the administration of the National Capital Territory cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of article 239AA or of any law made in pursuance ofthat article; or
(b) that for the proper administration of the National Capital Territory it is necessary or expedientso to do, the President may by order suspend the operation of any provision of Article 239AA or of all or any of the
provisions of any law made in pursuance of that article for such period and subject to such conditions as maybe specified in such law and make such incidental and consequential provisions as may appear to him to be necessary or expedient for administering the National Capital Territory in accordance with the provisions of article 239 and article 239AA.
In the union territory of Puducherry, President's rule is applied on the basis of Article 51 of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963.[4] Which thus reads
51. Provision in case of failure of constitutional machinery. — If the President, on receipt of a report from the Administrator of the Union territory or otherwise, is satisfied,―
(a) that a situation has arisen in which the administration of the Union territory cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Act, or
(b) that for the proper administration of the Union territory it is necessary or expedient so to do, the President may, by order, suspend the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act for such period as he thinks fit and make such incidental and consequential provisions as may appear to him to be necessary or expedient for administering the Union territory in accordance with the provisions of article 239.
Article 356 gives wide powers to the Union government to assert its authority over a state if civil unrest occurs and the state government does not have the means to end it. Though the purpose of this article is to give more powers to the Union government to preserve the unity and integrity of the nation, it has often been misused by the ruling parties at the centre, who used it as a pretext to dissolve state governments ruled by political opponents.[5][6] Thus, it is seen by many as a threat to thefederal state system. Since the adoption of the Indian constitution in 1950, the Union government has used this 134 times to dissolve elected state governments by imposing President's rule.[1]
The article was used for the first time inPunjab on 20 June 1951. It was next used in the state ofPatiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) in 1953, and then in 1959 to dismiss theCommunist Party of India–led government inKerala in the aftermath ofanti-communist protests. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was common for the Union government to dismiss state governments led by opposition parties.[7] TheIndira Gandhi regime and post-emergencyJanata Party were noted for this practice. Indira Gandhi's government between 1966 and 1977 is known to have imposed President's rule 39 times in different states.[8] Similarly, the Janata Party which came to power after the emergency issued President's rule in 9 states which were ruled by Congress.[9][10]
The practice was limited only after the Supreme Court established strict guidelines for imposing President's rule in its ruling on theS. R. Bommai v. Union of India case in 1994. This landmark judgement has helped curtail the widespread abuse of Article 356. The judgement established strict guidelines for imposing President's rule. Subsequent pronouncements by the Supreme Court in Jharkhand and other states have further limited the scope for misuse of Article 356. Only since the early 2000s has the number of cases of imposition of President's rule has been drastically reduced.[11]
Article 356 has always been the focal point of a wider debate of thefederal structure of government in Indian polity.[12] During debates in theConstituent Assembly of India regardingemergency provisions of the Constitution of India,B. R. Ambedkar argued for their inclusion under the assumption "that such articles will never be called into operation and that they would remain adead letter".[13] TheSarkaria Commission Report on Centre-State Relations 1983 has recommended that Article 356 must be used "very sparingly, in extreme cases, as a measure of last resort, when all the other alternatives fail to prevent or rectify a breakdown of Constitutional machinery in the state".[14]
| State | Term | Date of imposition | Date of revocation | Duration | Reason(s) to impose the President's rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 1 | 18 January 1973 | 10 December 1973 | 327 days | Breakdown of law & order due toJai Andhra Agitation, in CMP. V. Narasimha Rao's tenure.[15] |
| 2 | 1 March 2014 | 8 June 2014 | 99 days | Political impasse following the resignation of CMKiran Kumar Reddy and several other congress party legislators from the Government as well as the Party, in protest against Indian Parliament passingAndhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill to bifurcate united Andhra Pradesh and create a separateTelangana state.[16] President's rule revoked from Telangana areas on 2 June 2014 and bifurcated Andhra Pradesh areas on 8 June 2014.[17] President rule reimposed unlawfully by the President after the two months time limit without taking approval of the Parliament underArticle 356.[18][19] | |
| Andhra State | 1 | 15 November 1954 | 28 March 1955 | 133 days | Loss of majority.[20][21]: 127–133 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 1 | 3 November 1979 | 18 January 1980 | 76 days | Loss of majority following defections in a fluid political environment during Janata party rule at the centre.[22] |
| 2 | 25 January 2016 | 19 February 2016 | 26 days | 21 Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of theBJP and two Independents, making the contemporary government a minority.[23] Supreme Court declared the imposition of president rule asultra vires and reinstated the dismissed Congress led government in the state. In a landmark judgement, it found fault with the unconstitutional role played by the Governor by interfering in the activities of legislatures and speaker of the Vidhan Sabha[24] | |
| Assam | 1 | 12 December 1979 | 6 December 1980 | 360 days | 'Assam Agitation' against illegal foreign nationals staying in Assam started to take roots under the leadership of theAll Assam Students' Union (AASU). The violence fuelled byUnited Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) resulted in breakdown of law and order.[25]: 1193 [26]: 274 |
| 2 | 30 June 1981 | 13 January 1982 | 197 days | Congress (I) government led byAnwara Taimur representing immigrant minorities collapsed following intensification of 'Assam Agitation' against illegal foreign national staying in Assam.[27] | |
| 3 | 19 March 1982 | 27 February 1983 | 345 days | Congress (I) government led byKesab Gogoi representing ethnic Asom people collapsed following continued violence in Assam.[28] | |
| 4 | 28 November 1990 | 30 June 1991 | 214 days | Government dismissed in spite ofAGP CMPrafulla Mahanta enjoying majority support in Assembly. The dismissal was triggered apparently by the threat to internal security due to banned organisation ULFA's activities.[29] During the president's rule,Operation Bajrang was launched to flush out ULFA militants.[30] | |
| Bihar | 1 | 29 June 1968 | 26 February 1969 | 242 days | Loss of majority following defections in a fluid political environment.[31]: 116–117 [21]: 300–301 |
| 2 | 4 July 1969 | 16 February 1970 | 227 days | Loss of majority following defections in a fluid political environment due to split in ruling Congress party[31]: 123–125 [21]: 321–326 | |
| 3 | 9 January 1972 | 19 March 1972 | 70 days | Loss of majority following defections in a fluid political environment.[31]: 129–130 | |
| 4 | 30 April 1977 | 24 June 1977 | 55 days | Government dismissed in spite ofJagannath Mishra enjoying majority support in Assembly.[9][10] | |
| 5 | 17 February 1980 | 8 June 1980 | 112 days | Government dismissed in spite ofRam Sundar Das enjoying majority support in Assembly.[32] | |
| 6 | 28 March 1995 | 4 April 1995 | 7 days | President's rule imposed for a brief period of one week to facilitate passage of vote on account (to permit day-to-day government expenses in Bihar) by Parliament while awaiting the results of Assembly elections held during the Chief Ministership ofLalu Prasad.[33] | |
| 7 | 12 February 1999 | 8 March 1999 | 24 days | Breakdown of law and order, killings of 11 Dalits at Narayanpur. The Vajpayee Government, revoked the president's rule within 26 days since the coalition did not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha.[34] | |
| 8 | 7 March 2005 | 24 November 2005 | 262 days | Indecisive outcome of elections. In a landmark judgement, Supreme Court ruled that the imposition of the president's rule without giving the chance to the elected legislatures to form new government is unconstitutional andmala fide act by the president.[35] | |
| Delhi | 1 | 16 February 2014 | 14 February 2015 | 363 days | Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister after failing to table theJan Lokpal Bill in theDelhi Assembly.[36] |
| Goa | 1 | 14 December 1990 | 25 January 1991 | 42 days | C.M. resigned consequent upon his disqualification by High Court – No other Government found viable.[37] |
| 2 | 10 February 1999 | 9 June 1999 | 119 days | Loss of majority and no alternate claimant to form next government.[38] | |
| 3 | 4 March 2005 | 7 June 2005 | 95 days | Government dismissed after controversial confidence vote secured in the Assembly by CMPratap Sinh Rane.[39][40] | |
| Goa, Daman and Diu | 1 | 3 December 1966 | 5 April 1967 | 123 days | The Union Territory of Goa's Assembly was dissolved to conduct an opinion poll to determine whether Goa should be merged with Maharashtra.[41]: 476–477 |
| 2 | 27 April 1979 | 16 January 1980 | 264 days | Loss of majority following split in the rulingMGP Party.[42] | |
| Gujarat | 1 | 13 May 1971 | 17 March 1972 | 309 days | Loss of majority following vertical split in Congress during1969 presidential election.[31]: 138–140 |
| 2 | 9 February 1974 | 18 June 1975 | 1 year, 129 days | Chimanbhai Patel led Congress government resigned due toNavnirman Movement Anti-Corruption protests. The protesters forced MLA's resignations, forcing dissolution of assembly.[43] | |
| 3 | 12 March 1976 | 24 December 1976 | 287 days | "Non-Passage" of budget leading to collapse of government.[44] | |
| 4 | 17 February 1980 | 7 June 1980 | 111 days | Government dismissed in spite ofBabubhai J Patel enjoying majority support in the Assembly[32] | |
| 5 | 19 September 1996 | 23 October 1996 | 34 days | Government dismissed following a controversial confidence vote. The Assembly was placed in suspended animation, which led to subsequent installation ofVaghela government, supported by Congress.[45] | |
| Haryana | 1 | 2 November 1967 | 21 May 1968 | 182 days | Governmentdismissed in spite of having a tenuous majority.[21]: 153–155 |
| 2 | 30 April 1977 | 21 June 1977 | 52 days | Government dismissed in spite ofB D Gupta enjoying majority support in Assembly.[9][10] | |
| 3 | 6 April 1991 | 23 June 1991 | 78 days | Rebellion in the ruling party.[46] | |
| Himachal Pradesh | 1 | 30 April 1977 | 22 June 1977 | 53 days | Government dismissed in spite ofThakur Ram Lal enjoying majority support in Assembly.[9][10] |
| 2 | 15 December 1992 | 3 December 1993 | 353 days | Government dismissed in the aftermath of thedestruction of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmasthan in Uttar Pradesh.[47] | |
| Jammu and Kashmir (State) | 1 | 27 March 1977 | 9 July 1977 | 104 days | Sheikh Abdullah ledNational Conference government bowed out after being reduced to a minority following withdrawal of support by the Congress Party.[31]: 431–432 |
| 2 | 7 March 1986 | 6 November 1986 | 244 days | Loss of majority.[48] | |
| 3 | 19 January 1990 | 9 October 1996 | 6 years, 264 days | IncreasedMilitancy,Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus & breakdown of law & order[49] | |
| 5 | 10 July 2008 | 5 January 2009 | 179 days | Loss of majority following collapse of coalition. CMGulam Nabi Azad's decision totransfer land for Amarnath pilgrimage led toPDP pulling out of coalition Govt.[50] | |
| 6 | 9 January 2015 | 1 March 2015 | 51 days | Failure of Government formation after fractured verdict in Assembly elections. BJP & PDP reached an understanding to form an alliance to form Government in J&K.[51] | |
| 7 | 8 January 2016 | 4 April 2016 | 87 days | Death of chief ministerMufti Mohammad Sayeed.[52] | |
| 8 | 19 June 2018 | 30 October 2019 | 1 year, 133 days | Resignation of the Chief Minister following loss of coalition partner.[53] On 31 October 2019, Jammu and Kashmir state was split into two union territories, UT of Jammu and Kashmir and UT of Ladakh. | |
| Jammu and Kashmir (Union Territory) | 1 | 31 October 2019 | 13 October 2024 | 4 years, 348 days | Imposed under section 73 ofJammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (Article 356 does not apply to Union Territories) |
| Jharkhand | 1 | 19 January 2009 | 30 December 2009 | 345 days | Political instability due to CMShibu Soren's resignation following defeat in Tamar bypolls.[54] |
| 2 | 1 June 2010 | 11 September 2010 | 102 days | Loss of majority.[55] | |
| 3 | 18 January 2013 | 13 July 2013 | 176 days | Loss of majority BJP's ruling coalition partnerJMM withdrew its support to the government pushing it into a minority. Chief MinisterArjun Munda resigned and sought dissolution of the state Assembly.[56] | |
| Karnataka | 1 | 27 March 1971 | 20 March 1972 | 359 days | Loss of majority.[21]: 392, 395–396 |
| 2 | 31 December 1977 | 27 February 1978 | 58 days | Government dismissed in spite of Congress CMDevraj Urs enjoying majority support in Assembly.[21]: 221–225 | |
| 3 | 21 April 1989 | 30 November 1989 | 223 days | Loss of majority of CMS. R. Bommai, followed by dissolution of Assembly.[57] On an appeal by S. R. Bommai, in a landmark judgement delivered in 1994, the Indian Supreme Court laid out the procedure to be followed before dissolving an elected assembly. The historic ruling in this case reduced the scope for misuse of Article 356 by future central governments and governors. | |
| 4 | 10 October 1990 | 17 October 1990 | 7 days | Government ofVeerendra Patil dismissed by Prime MinisterV. P. Singh and state was placed under president's rule with the assembly placed in suspended animation until next chief Minister was elected.[58] | |
| 5 | 9 October 2007 | 12 November 2007 | 34 days | Loss of majority.[59][60] | |
| 6 | 20 November 2007 | 30 May 2008 | 192 days | Loss of majority.[61] | |
| Kerala | 1 | 31 July 1959 | 22 February 1960 | 206 days | Government dismissed in spite of Communist CMEMS Namboodiripad enjoying majority support in Assembly.[62][63] |
| 2 | 10 September 1964 | 6 March 1967 | 2 years, 177 days | Loss of majority followed by indecisive outcome of elections.[31]: 173–174 [21]: 214–215 | |
| 3 | 4 August 1970 | 3 October 1970 | 60 days | Loss of majority.[31]: 194–195 | |
| 4 | 5 December 1979 | 25 January 1980 | 51 days | Loss of majority.[64] | |
| 5 | 21 October 1981 | 28 December 1981 | 68 days | Loss of majority due to withdrawal of support byCongress(S) andKerala Congress(M).[65][66] | |
| 6 | 17 March 1982 | 24 May 1982 | 68 days | Loss of majority following defection ofLonappan Nambadan.[67][68]: 1052 | |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1 | 30 April 1977 | 23 June 1977 | 54 days | Government dismissed in spite ofShyama Charan Shukla enjoying majority support in Assembly.[9][10] |
| 2 | 17 February 1980 | 9 June 1980 | 113 days | Government dismissed in spite ofSundar Lal Patwa enjoying majority support in Assembly.[32] | |
| 3 | 15 December 1992 | 7 December 1993 | 357 days | Govt. dismissed in the aftermath of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmasthan destruction in Uttar Pradesh.[47] | |
| Maharashtra | 1 | 17 February 1980 | 9 June 1980 | 113 days | Govt. dismissed in spite ofSharad Pawar enjoying majority support in the Assembly.[32] |
| 2 | 28 September 2014 | 31 October 2014 | 33 days | Govt. dismissed since Congress Separated from its alliesNCP and Others.[69] | |
| 3 | 12 November 2019 | 23 November 2019 | 11 days | No party could form a government after a fractured election verdict andShiv Sena broke the pre-poll alliance it had with the BJP.[70] See also:2019 Maharashtra political crisis. | |
| Manipur | 1 | 25 October 1967 | 19 February 1968 | 117 days | Short lived ministry collapsed following resignation of speaker, resulting in neither ruling nor opposition congress having a clear majority in the assembly. Assembly kept in suspended animation.[71] |
| 2 | 16 October 1969 | 20 March 1972 | 2 years, 156 days | Violent secessionist insurgency and statehood demands resulted in breakdown of law and order.[31]: 206–207 | |
| 3 | 28 March 1973 | 4 March 1974 | 341 days | President's rule was imposed even though the opposition had a "tenuous" majority and could have formed a government.[31]: 208–209 | |
| 4 | 16 May 1977 | 26 June 1977 | 41 days | Collapse of Government following defections.[72][31]: 213–214 | |
| 5 | 14 November 1979 | 13 January 1980 | 60 days | Discontent within Janata Party Government and corruption charges led to dismissal of government and dissolution of Assembly.[73]: 523–524 | |
| 6 | 28 February 1981 | 19 June 1981 | 111 days | Incumbent Government fell following defections. Governor did not permit an alternate government to be formed by People's Democratic Front on the basis of his assessment regarding stability of the proposed ministry.[74] | |
| 7 | 7 January 1992 | 8 April 1992 | 92 days | Incumbent coalition Government fell following defections. president's rule imposed keeping assembly in suspension.[75] | |
| 8 | 31 December 1993 | 13 December 1994 | 347 days | 1000 persons died inNaga-Kuki clashes and continued violence.[76] | |
| 9 | 2 June 2001 | 5 March 2002 | 276 days | Loss of majority.[77] | |
| 10 | 13 February 2025 | Ongoing‡ | 287 days | Chief MinisterN. Biren Singh resigned following the2023–2025 Manipur violence amidst a crisis of possible no-confidence motion. Assembly put under suspended animation.[2] | |
| Meghalaya | 1 | 11 October 1991 | 5 February 1992 | 117 days | The Centre imposed president's rule in Meghalaya in the wake of a political crisis after the then SpeakerPR Kyndiah suspended five MLAs, mostly independents, on grounds of defection.[78][79] |
| 2 | 19 March 2009 | 13 May 2009 | 56 days | Government dismissed after controversial confidence vote secured in the Assembly by CMDonkupar Roy.[80] | |
| Mizoram | 1 | 11 May 1977 | 2 June 1978 | 1 year, 22 days | Mizo Union Ministry led by Chief MinisterChhunga resigned in May 1977, ostensibly to facilitate the progress of peace talks.[81]: 95 |
| 2 | 11 November 1978 | 8 May 1979 | 178 days | Chief MinisterSailo's refusal to grant undue favours caused dissension in his party which led to the fall of his government and imposition of president's rule.[81]: 96–97 | |
| 3 | 7 September 1988 | 24 January 1989 | 139 days | Defections reduced the Government to minority.[82] | |
| Nagaland | 1 | 22 March 1975 | 25 November 1977 | 2 years, 248 days | Defections and counter defections led to imposition of president's rule.[31]: 230–231 |
| 2 | 7 August 1988 | 25 January 1989 | 171 days | The state was under a brief spell of central rule again after theHokishe Sema-led Congress government was reduced to a minority.[83] The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court in held to be invalid in 1994. | |
| 3 | 2 April 1992 | 22 February 1993 | 326 days | Fluid party position and deteriorating law and order situation.[84] | |
| 4 | 3 January 2008 | 12 March 2008 | 69 days | Government dismissed after controversial confidence vote secured in the Assembly by CMNeiphiu Rio.[85][86] | |
| Odisha | 1 | 25 February 1961 | 23 June 1961 | 118 days | Harekrishna Mahtab led Congress-Gantantra Parishad Minority Government resigned on 21 February 1961 due to differences in the Congress Party. President's rule was imposed on 25 February 1961.[87] |
| 2 | 11 January 1971 | 3 April 1971 | 82 days | Break-up of coalition.[31]: 239–244 | |
| 3 | 3 March 1973 | 6 March 1974 | 1 year, 3 days | Facing imminent collapse of government, incumbent chief minister recommended dissolution of assembly and fresh elections.[31]: 245–247 | |
| 4 | 16 December 1976 | 29 December 1976 | 13 days | Chief MinisterNandini Satpathy was forced out and assembly placed under suspended animation. A new Congress government was sworn in after revocation of president's rule.[88] | |
| 5 | 30 April 1977 | 26 June 1977 | 57 days | Government dismissed in spite ofBinayak Acharya enjoying majority support in Assembly.[9][10] | |
| 6 | 17 February 1980 | 9 June 1980 | 113 days | Government dismissed in spite ofNilamani Routray enjoying majority support in Assembly.[32] | |
| Patiala and East Punjab States Union | 1 | 4 March 1953 | 7 March 1954 | 1 year, 3 days | President's rule was invoked in the erstwhile PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union ) State when theAkali Dal government, led byGian Singh Rarewala, was dismissed.[89][90] |
| Puducherry | 1 | 18 September 1968 | 17 March 1969 | 180 days | Assembly was dissolved and president's rule imposed as opposition parties had a chance to form a government after the fall of the Congress government.[91][31]: 269–270 |
| 2 | 3 January 1974 | 6 March 1974 | 62 days | Assembly dissolved after fall ofDMK government following decision of two ministers to join newly formedAIADMK.[31]: 271–272 | |
| 3 | 28 March 1974 | 2 July 1977 | 3 years, 96 days | Fall of coalition government of AIADMK,Congress(O) following division of votes byCongress(R) and DMK. The Assembly was dissolved.[31]: 272–274 | |
| 4 | 12 November 1978 | 16 January 1980 | 1 year, 65 days | Fall of government due to political instability.[92] | |
| 5 | 24 June 1983 | 16 March 1985 | 1 year, 265 days | Government dismissed following withdrawal of Congress(I) from coalition government. In spite of incumbent chief minister asking for an opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the house, the assembly was dissolved.[93] | |
| 6 | 12 January 1991 | 4 July 1991 | 173 days | DMK Government dismissed in spite of having a majority in the Assembly.[94][95] | |
| 7 | 25 February 2021 | 7 May 2021 | 71 days | Congress Government resigned due to loss of majority and no alternate claimant to form next government.[96] | |
| Punjab | 1 | 20 June 1951 | 17 April 1952 | 302 days | Pandit Nehru kept thePunjab Assembly in suspension for nine months and 28 days to help the state Congress government get its act together.[97] |
| 2 | 5 July 1966 | 1 November 1966 | 119 days | State administration was taken over, ostensibly to facilitate bifurcation of Punjab state into two, Punjab and Haryana.[31]: 282–283 | |
| 3 | 23 August 1968 | 17 February 1969 | 178 days | Break-up of coalition.[31]: 286–287 | |
| 4 | 15 June 1971 | 17 March 1972 | 276 days | Following poor performance in March,1971 Lok Sabha Elections, incumbent Chief Minister advised dissolving state assembly and holding fresh elections to state legislature.[98] | |
| 5 | 30 April 1977 | 20 June 1977 | 51 days | Government dismissed in spite of GianiZail Singh enjoying majority support in Assembly.[9][10] | |
| 6 | 17 February 1980 | 7 June 1980 | 111 days | Government dismissed in spite ofParkash Singh Badal enjoying majority support in Assembly.[32] | |
| 7 | 6 October 1983 | 29 September 1985 | 1 year, 358 days | ManyKhalistani separatist groups announced the creation of Khalistan.[99] | |
| 8 | 11 May 1987 | 23 February 1992 | 4 years, 288 days | Breakdown of law and order by several militant groups.[100] | |
| Rajasthan | 1 | 13 March 1967 | 26 April 1967 | 44 days | Indecisive outcome of elections.[21]: 281, 285–287 |
| 2 | 30 April 1977 | 22 June 1977 | 53 days | Government dismissed in spite ofHari Dev Joshi enjoying majority support in Assembly.[9][10] | |
| 3 | 17 February 1980 | 5 June 1980 | 109 days | Government dismissed in spite ofBhairon Singh Shekhawat enjoying majority support in Assembly.[32] | |
| 4 | 15 December 1992 | 4 December 1993 | 354 days | Government dismissed in spite of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat enjoying majority support in Assembly.[47] | |
| Sikkim | 1 | 18 August 1978 | 17 October 1979 | 1 year, 60 days | Loss of majority following split inKazi Lhendup Dorji led Janata Party government. The central government imposed president's rule and followed up with electoral reforms before ordering fresh elections.[101]: 1244–1248, 1250 |
| 2 | 25 May 1984 | 8 March 1985 | 287 days | Congress Government formed following induced collapse ofNar Bahadur BhandariSikkim Janata Parishad Government was dismissed as it did not enjoy a majority in the Assembly.[102][103]: 135 | |
| Tamil Nadu | 1 | 31 January 1976 | 30 June 1977 | 1 year, 150 days | The government headed by former chief ministerM. Karunanidhi was dismissed by former prime ministerIndira Gandhi in spite enjoying majority in the legislative assembly, due to charges of corruption while theSarkaria Commission was set up to probe the allegations.[104] |
| 2 | 17 February 1980 | 9 June 1980 | 113 days | The government headed by former chief ministerM. G. Ramachandran was dismissed by former prime ministerIndira Gandhi in spite enjoying majority in the legislative assembly.[32] | |
| 3 | 30 January 1988 | 27 January 1989 | 363 days | The government headed by former chief ministerV. N. Janaki Ramachandran was dismissed by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi after controversial confidence vote secured by her in the legislative assembly.[105] | |
| 4 | 30 January 1991 | 24 June 1991 | 145 days | The government headed by former chief ministerM. Karunanidhi was dismissed by former prime ministerChandra Shekhar on charges of supporting anti-national activities, in spite of the governorSurjit Singh Barnala's report and enjoying majority in the legislative assembly.[106] | |
| Travancore-Cochin | 1 | 23 March 1956 | 5 April 1957 | 1 year, 13 days | Loss of majority following split in Congress Party.[107]: 33–35 |
| Tripura | 1 | 1 November 1971 | 20 March 1972 | 140 days | In the backdrop of refugee influx due toBangladesh Liberation War, split in the Congress and Communist agitation for Tripura to become a full-fledged state, president's rule was imposed. On 1 January 1972 Tripura became a State and assembly elections held subsequently.[31]: 320 |
| 2 | 5 November 1977 | 4 January 1978 | 60 days | Collapse of short lived government in a fluid political environment.[31]: 322 | |
| 3 | 11 March 1993 | 10 April 1993 | 30 days | Elections postponed from 15 February 1993 to 3 April 1993 on account of deteriorating law and order situation. Caretaker CM resigns.[108] | |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1 | 25 February 1968 | 26 February 1969 | 1 year, 1 day | Loss of majority following withdrawal of support by Congress (R) led by Indira Gandhi.[31]: 326–327 |
| 2 | 1 October 1970 | 18 October 1970 | 17 days | Charan Singh Ministry supported by Congress collapsed following split in Congress party.[31]: 338–341 | |
| 3 | 13 June 1973 | 8 November 1973 | 148 days | Chief Minister resigned as a result of the1973 Provincial Armed Constabulary revolt.[31]: 44–45 | |
| 4 | 30 November 1975 | 21 January 1976 | 52 days | Congress Government ofH N Bahuguna tendered resignation due to infighting within the party.[31]: 369–370 | |
| 5 | 30 April 1977 | 23 June 1977 | 54 days | Government dismissed in spite ofN D Tiwari enjoying majority support in Assembly.[9][10] | |
| 6 | 17 February 1980 | 9 June 1980 | 113 days | Government dismissed in spite ofBanarasi Das enjoying majority support in Assembly.[32] | |
| 7 | 6 December 1992 | 4 December 1993 | 363 days | Government dismissed in the aftermath of the destruction of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmasthan.[47] | |
| 8 | 18 October 1995 | 21 March 1997 | 1 year, 154 days | Loss of majority following collapse of coalition followed by indecisive outcome of fresh elections.[109] | |
| 9 | 8 March 2002 | 3 May 2002 | 56 days | Indecisive outcome of elections.[110][111] | |
| Uttarakhand | 1 | 27 March 2016 | 21 April 2016 | 25 days | Collapse of CMHarish Rawat's ministry following a split in the state unit of Congress party. In the hearing of related case,Uttarakhand High Court declared the president's rule imposition by the President unconstitutional and restored the Harish Rawat's led government in the state.[112] |
| 2 | 22 April 2016 | 11 May 2016 | 19 days | Supreme Court of India held the stay on Uttarakhand High Court's verdict thus reinstating the president's rule in the state.[113][114] | |
| West Bengal | 1 | 20 February 1968 | 25 February 1969 | 1 year, 5 days | State placed under president's rule following collapse of two successive short lived coalition governments.[115] |
| 2 | 19 March 1970 | 2 April 1971 | 1 year, 14 days | Collapse ofUnited Front Coalition betweenBangla Congress andCPI(M).[21]: 336–340 | |
| 3 | 29 June 1971 | 20 March 1972 | 265 days | Collapse of Democratic Coalition following split in Bangla Congress.[31]: 408–411 [21]: 401–403 | |
| 4 | 30 April 1977 | 21 June 1977 | 52 days | Government dismissed in spite ofSiddhartha Shankar Ray enjoying majority support in Assembly.[9][10] |
... Article 356, authorizing "President's Rule," through which governments at the centre have regularly dissolved state governments ... Indira Gandhi used this instrument 39 times between 1966 and 1977.