RAS question
Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as Chief Minister of Manipur in February 2026, ending how many months of President's Rule?
Correct answer: (C) 12 months.
Yumnam Khemchand Singh's swearing-in as Manipur Chief Minister on 4 February 2026 ended about 12 months of President's Rule in the state.
Explanation
The key is the time between the imposition and revocation of President's Rule, not just the date of the oath. The New Indian Express reported that Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath to Yumnam Khemchand Singh and his ministers at Lok Bhavan, Imphal, on 4 February 2026, after President's Rule was revoked with effect from that date. The same report says the original Article 356 proclamation for Manipur had been issued on 13 February 2025. Counting from 13 February 2025 to 4 February 2026 gives roughly one year, so the closest and intended answer is 12 months. The cabinet detail also fits the explanation: it included Meitei, Kuki and Naga representation.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Six months is too short because President's Rule began on 13 February 2025 and was revoked only on 4 February 2026.
- (B) Eight months does not match the cited Article 356 timeline, which runs from mid-February 2025 to early February 2026.
- (D) Eighteen months overstates the period, as the cited dates show a duration of just under one year, not one and a half years.
Concept
This tests President's Rule under Article 356 and its practical link with government formation in a state. RAS often frames constitutional provisions through current state-level political events because they test both polity basics and contemporary governance awareness.