<P> The President can declare three types of emergencies: </P> <Ul> <Li> National emergency </Li> <Li> State emergency </Li> <Li> Financial emergency </Li> </Ul> <P> National emergency can be declared on the basis of external aggression or armed rebellion in the whole of India or a part of its territory . Such an emergency was declared in India in 1962 (China war), 1971 (Pakistan war), and 1975 (declared by Indira Gandhi). The President can declare such an emergency only on the basis of a written request by the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister . Such a proclamation must be laid before both houses of Parliament, and the state of emergency expires after one month unless approved within that time by both houses sitting and voting separately . However, if the Lok Sabha (the lower house) has been dissolved or dissolution takes place in the state of emergency, and the Rajya Sabha approves of the state of emergency, the deadline for the Lok Sabha is extended until thirty days after that house reconstituted . According to Article 352 (6), approval by each house requires a special majority: those in favour of the motion must be two thirds of those present and voting, and amount to a majority of the entire membership of that house . A Parliamentary resolution extends the state of emergency for up to six months, and it can be extended indefinitely by further resolutions in six - monthly increments . </P> <P> During a national emergency, many Fundamental Rights of Indian citizens can be suspended . The six freedoms under Right to Freedom are automatically suspended . By contrast, the Right to Life and Personal Liberty cannot be suspended according to the original Constitution . In January 1977, during the emergency declared controversially by Indira Gandhi, the government decided to suspend even the Right to Life and Personal Liberty by dispensing with Habeas corpus . Justice Hans Raj Khanna defended the Right to Life and asked: "Life is also mentioned in Article 21 and would Government argument extend to it also?". The Attorney General observed: "Even if life was taken away illegally, courts are helpless". </P>

When was national emergency declared for the first time in india