Governor & CM
Indian Polity · राज्यपाल और मुख्यमंत्री
📋Quick Overview
The Governor is the constitutional head of a state, appointed by the President under Articles 153–162. The Chief Minister (CM) is the real executive head, appointed by the Governor as the leader of the majority party in the Vidhan Sabha. The Governor-CM relationship is similar to the President-PM relationship at the Centre. The Governor has both constitutional and discretionary powers, making this a frequently asked topic in exams.
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Governor is the ONLY constitutional head who is NOT elected — appointed by President (unlike President who is elected)
📖Governor — Key Facts Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Articles | 153–162 |
| Appointment | By President (not elected) |
| Minimum Age | 35 years |
| Term | 5 years (serves at President's pleasure) |
| Qualifications | Indian citizen, 35+ years, not MP/MLA, no office of profit |
| Oath | Administered by Chief Justice of concerned High Court |
| Salary | Rs 3.5 Lakh/month (from Consolidated Fund of State) |
| Removal | No fixed procedure — President can remove anytime |
| Can hold 2 states? | Yes — same person can be Governor of 2+ states (Art 153) |
📝Governor's Powers
- •Executive: All state executive actions in his name, appoints CM, Council of Ministers, AG, State Election Commission, SPSC members
- •Legislative: Summons/prorogues/dissolves Vidhan Sabha, nominates 1/6 members to Vidhan Parishad, first address
- •Financial: Money Bill introduced only with Governor's prior recommendation, presents state budget
- •Judicial: Appoints district judges (Art 233), can grant pardons (Art 161) — but NOT for death sentence or court martial
- •Discretionary: Can reserve bill for President's consideration, recommends President's Rule (Art 356), appoints CM when no clear majority
📖Chief Minister — Key Facts Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Articles | 163 and 164 |
| Appointment | By Governor (leader of majority in Vidhan Sabha) |
| Qualifications | Must be member of state legislature (or become within 6 months) |
| Term | No fixed term — stays as long as majority in Assembly |
| Oath | Administered by Governor |
| Resignation to | Governor |
| Key Role | Real executive head, head of Council of Ministers, link between Governor and Cabinet |
📖Governor vs President — Comparison
📝"First / Only" — Quick Facts
- •FIRST Governor-General of independent India → Lord Mountbatten (1947)
- •FIRST Indian Governor-General → C. Rajagopalachari (last GG too)
- •FIRST woman Governor → Sarojini Naidu (UP, 1947)
- •FIRST woman CM → Sucheta Kriplani (UP, 1963)
- •Longest-serving CM → Pawan Kumar Chamling (Sikkim, 24+ years)
- •Youngest CM → M.K. Stalin was not — it was Manoj Joshi (NOT asked much). Most asked: First CM of a state