List of Governor of States in India, Constitutional Provisions and Role

The President appointed new Governors and Lt. Governor– Kavinder Gupta as Lt. Governor of Ladakh, Ashok Gajapathi Raju as Governor of Goa, and Ashim Kumar Ghosh as Governor of Haryana.

Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu had reshuffled the leadership across five states, appointing two new governors and transferring three others. This strategic move aims to address political, administrative, and security challenges while strengthening governance. Check here the List of Governor of States in India, Constitutional Provisions and their Role in detail.

Governor of States in India

The Governor is the constitutional head of a state and is appointed by the President of India for five years. The Governor enjoys executive, legislative, and judicial powers. Executive powers include:

• The appointment of the Chief Minister and other ministers.
• Assent to bills passed by the state legislature.
• The power to pardon or reduce sentences.

Legislative powers include summoning and proroguing the state legislature and addressing the house. Judicial authorities can grant pardons, reprieves, and suspensions of sentences. The Constitution of India outlines the Governor’s qualifications, appointments, and capabilities.

The current List of Governors of Indian States and the list of Lieutenant Governors of Indian Union Territories are provided along with some other important details related to the post of Governor of India in this article below, an important section of the UPSC Syllabus.

Constitutional Provisions (Governor’s Post)

• Article 153: There shall be a Governor for each state. However, the same person can be appointed Governor for two or more states.
• Article 154: The executive power of the state is vested in the Governor.
• Article 155: The Governor is appointed by the President of India.
• Article 156: The Governor holds office at the pleasure of the President, with no fixed term.
• Article 157: Qualifications for appointment as Governor.
• Article 158: Conditions of the Governor’s office.

Eligibility Criteria for Governor

• Must be a citizen of India.
• Must be 35 years of age.
• Must not hold any office of profit.
• Cannot be a member of Parliament or any state legislature.
• Should be eligible for election as a member of the Lok Sabha.

List of Governors of India 2025 State-wise

Here is the complete List of Governors of India 2025 State-wise, given below:

List of Lieutenant Governors for UT

Here is the complete List of Lieutenant Governors & Administrators for Union Territories (UT) given below:

Lieutenant Governors

Administrators

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Syllabus here!

First Governors of India

Candidates can go through the list of first governors of India from the table below:-

First Woman Governor of India

• The first woman governor of India was Sarojini Naidu, who served as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh from 15 August 1947 to 2 March 1949.
• She was a renowned poet, writer and freedom fighter, and played an important role in India’s struggle for independence.
• Naidu was also the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and was actively involved in various social and cultural movements.
• As the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, she worked towards improving the education system and promoting women’s rights.

Governor of India Post Criticism

Experts have criticised the post of Governor in India on the following grounds. 

• Overstepping the Constitutional Limits: Critics argue that Governors have frequently overstepped their constitutional limits by interfering in the functioning of state governments, bypassing the advice of the Council of Ministers, and acting as agents of the central government. This has often led to political instability and erosion of federal principles.
• Partisan Actions: Governors have also been accused of acting in a partisan manner by favouring certain political parties or individuals and disregarding the principles of neutrality and impartiality. This has been particularly evident in cases where Governors have recommended the President’s Rule or disqualified MLAs on grounds that were seen as politically motivated.
• Delay in Appointments: Another criticism is that Governors have delayed or blocked appointments of judges, bureaucrats, and other officials, leading to a backlog of vacancies and adversely affecting the functioning of state institutions.
• Excessive Discretion: Some critics argue that Governors have been given excessive discretion under the Constitution, and this has led to arbitrary exercise of powers, lack of transparency, and abuse of authority. For instance, Governors have often granted pardons, commutations, and remissions of sentences without providing sufficient reasons or following due process.

Reforms Needed for the Governor of India Post

There have been several suggestions for reforms related to the post of Governor in India, including:

• Appointment Process: The appointment process of Governors needs to be more transparent and non-partisan, ensuring that only individuals with impeccable integrity are appointed.
• Role of Governor: The role of the Governor should be redefined to ensure that the post is not misused for political purposes. The Governor should not act as a representative of the Central Government, but rather as a neutral arbiter.
• Removal Process: The process for the removal of Governors needs to be clearly defined and non-partisan. It should not be possible for a ruling party to remove a Governor simply because they do not agree with them.
• Tenure: The tenure of Governors needs to be fixed to ensure that they are not removed arbitrarily. A fixed tenure would also ensure that Governors are not beholden to the ruling party.
• Powers: The powers of Governors need to be clearly defined, and they should not have powers that are in conflict with the elected government. Governors should act as a bridge between the state government and the central government, and not act as an obstacle to the functioning of the state government.

Key Supreme Court Observations

• The post of Governor is not merely ceremonial; the Governor is a constitutional head and must act as a link between the Centre and the State.
• In BP Singhal vs Union of India (2010), the SC ruled:
  • The President can remove a Governor without giving reasons, but the power cannot be exercised arbitrarily.
  • Political considerations alone are not valid grounds for removal.
• SC emphasised the apolitical and neutral role of the Governor to maintain constitutional balance.

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