Governor

The Governor is the constitutional head of a state, functioning similarly to the President at the national level.

• Governed by Articles 153 to 162 of the Indian Constitution.
• The Governor is the nominal executive, while the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers hold real powers.

📝 PYQ (BPSC 67th): Who is the constitutional head of a state? → Governor

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Appointment and Tenure

• Appointed by the President of India (Article 155)
• Holds office during the pleasure of the President
• Normally appointed for a term of 5 years (but not fixed)
• Can be removed or transferred before term completion

📝 PYQ (BPSC 66th): Who appoints the Governor? → President of India

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Qualifications

• Must be a citizen of India
• Should be at least 35 years old
• Must not be a member of either house of Parliament or state legislature
• Should not hold any office of profit

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Executive Powers of Governor

• Appoints the Chief Minister
• Appoints other Ministers on advice of CM
• Appoints the Advocate General, Chairman and Members of State Public Service Commission, and State Election Commissioner
• Acts as the Chancellor of state universities
• All executive actions in the state are taken in the name of the Governor

📝 Expected MCQ: Who appoints the Advocate General of a state? → Governor

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Legislative Powers of Governor

• Summons and prorogues the State Legislature
• Can dissolve the Legislative Assembly
• Gives assent to bills, withholds assent, or reserves them for President
• Can promulgate ordinances when the Assembly is not in session (Article 213)
• Delivers address at the first session of the state legislature after elections

📝 PYQ (BPSC 68th): Ordinance-making power of Governor is under which Article? → Article 213

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Judicial Powers of Governor

• Appoints District Judges in consultation with the High Court
• Can grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment under state laws (Article 161)

📝 Expected MCQ: Which Article gives the Governor power to grant pardon? → Article 161

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Financial Powers of Governor

• Ensures the annual state budget is laid before the legislature
• Can make advances from the state contingency fund
• Recommends introduction of money bills

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Discretionary Powers of Governor

• Appoints CM when no party has a clear majority
• Can dismiss a government that has lost majority
• Can reserve bills for the consideration of the President
• Can send a report to the President recommending President’s Rule (Article 356)

📝 Expected MCQ: One key discretionary power of Governor? → Reserving a bill for the President

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Role of Governor in Bihar

• Governor acts as the Chancellor of state universities in Bihar
• Signs all bills and ordinances before they become law
• Plays a vital role in budget approval, law and order, and elections
• Sends periodic reports to the President regarding constitutional functioning in the state

📝 Expected MCQ (BPSC): Who acts as Chancellor of state universities in Bihar? → Governor

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Quick Revision Points

• Articles related to Governor: 153–162
• Appointed by the President
• Can summon, dissolve, and prorogue the State Legislature
• Ordinance power: Article 213
• Pardoning power: Article 161
• Discretionary powers in case of hung assembly or President's Rule
• Head of state but functions on advice of CM and Council of Ministers
• Role in Bihar: Chancellor, Budget Assent, and Law & Order Monitoring

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Sources Used

• NCERT Class 11 – Indian Constitution at Work
• M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity (6th Edition)
• Lucent GK – Polity Section
• PRS India – Polity Updates
• Official Bihar Raj Bhavan Website
• Ghatna Chakra BPSC PYQs