Timeline of key events during the emergency

With the declaration of Emergency, Indira Gandhi allowed herself to rule by decree till 1977. India made great economic strides during the two-year emergency period, but political opposition was heavily suppressed.

• July 1st, 1975, Economic and Social reforms: Civil Liberties were suspended and the government introduced a mandatory birth control program. During the emergency, Mrs Gandhi’s 20-Point programme promised to liquidate the existing debts of landless laborers, small farmers and rural artisans. The programme planned to extend alternate credit to them, abolish bonded labor and implement the existing agricultural land ceiling laws. It provided house sites to landless laborers and weaker sections and it revised upwards minimum wages of agricultural labor. The program also provided special help to the handloom industry by bringing down the prices, preventing tax evasion and smuggling, increasing production and streamlining distribution of essential commodities. It increased the limit of income tax exemption up to Rs 8000, and liberalized investment procedures.
• July 4th, 1975, Four parties banned: The government of India banned four major religious, political and revolutionary parties and 22 associated parties with them. These parties included the Anad Marg, Rashtriya Swayamasevak, the Naxalites and the Jamaa-e-Islami-e-Hind.
• August 3rd, 1975: An amendment to the Representation of the People Act was drafted to clear Indira Gandhi from the Allahabad high court ruling of June 12th 1975.
• August 4th, 1975: A least 50,000 or more people had be jailed in India since the declaration of Emergency.
• August 15th, 1975: Bangladesh President Mujibar Rahaman was assassinated by Bangladeshi military leaders and this incident gave rise to new external problems in India.
• September 15th, 1975: Delhi High Court ruled that charges must be entered when arrested under the Internal Security Act.
• September 26th, 1975: Constitution (39th Amendment) Bill 1975 allowing the election of a Prime Minister beyond the scrutiny of the parliament was approved.
• January 9th, 1976 : The government suspends seven freedoms guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution of India.
• February 4th, 1976: Lok Sabha's life extended by one year.
• November 2nd, 1976: Lok Sabha passes 42nd Constitution Amendment Bill making India a socialist, secular, republic and laying down the fundamental duties of citizens.
• January 18th, 1976 : The President dissolves Lok Sabha
• March 21st, 1976 : Emergency withdrawn.
• March 22nd, 1976 : Janata Party gains absolute majority