President's Rule — Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs Connections
Supreme Court's intervention in Maharashtra Government formation crisis
November 2019The Maharashtra political crisis of 2019, involving the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance formation after BJP-Shiv Sena split, highlighted the contemporary relevance of constitutional conventions around government formation. Though President's Rule was not imposed, the crisis demonstrated how the Governor's role in inviting parties to form government remains crucial. The Supreme Court's intervention to ensure floor test within 24 hours showed the continuing application of Bommai and Rameshwar Prasad principles. This event illustrates how constitutional provisions like Article 356 continue to influence political behavior even when not directly invoked, as parties and Governors are aware of judicial oversight and constitutional requirements.
UPSC Angle: UPSC can test this through questions about constitutional conventions, Governor's discretionary powers, role of judiciary in political disputes, and the evolution of coalition politics in India. The event demonstrates practical application of landmark judgments in contemporary political scenarios.
Jharkhand Assembly dissolution and subsequent political developments
January 2024The political instability in Jharkhand, involving questions about the Chief Minister's eligibility and potential Assembly dissolution, brought Article 356 discussions back into focus. While President's Rule was not imposed, the constitutional questions raised about disqualification of members, government stability, and the role of Election Commission in determining eligibility showed how various constitutional provisions interact. The case highlighted the importance of anti-defection law, Election Commission's powers, and the constitutional process for dealing with disqualified members. It demonstrated how modern political crises involve multiple constitutional provisions and institutions working together.
UPSC Angle: This event can be tested through questions about interaction between different constitutional provisions, role of Election Commission, anti-defection law, and the constitutional process for handling government instability. It shows the complexity of modern constitutional governance and multi-institutional responses to political crises.