Daily Static Quiz Prelims Practice 2027
Article 155 provides that the Governor shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. Article 153 merely says there shall be a Governor for each State, Article 156 deals with the term of office, and Article 163 provides for a Council of Ministers to aid and advise the Governor.
- The Governor holds office for a fixed five-year term and can be removed only through impeachment by the State Legislature.
- The same person can be appointed Governor of two or more States, a provision added by the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956.
Statement 1 is incorrect — under Article 156, the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President, so the five-year term is subject to this pleasure, and the Constitution provides no impeachment procedure for a Governor at all. Statement 2 is correct, since the 7th Amendment (1956) did allow one person to be appointed Governor of two or more States.
Option (c) is incorrect — under Article 213, the Governor can promulgate Ordinances only when the State Legislature is not in session. Options (a), (b), and (d) are all correct — Article 157 sets the minimum age at 35 years, Article 200 allows the Governor to reserve a Bill for the President's consideration, and Article 161 gives the Governor the power to pardon offences against laws on matters within the State's executive power.
- Assertion (A): When no party wins a clear majority in the Assembly, the Governor exercises discretion in appointing the Chief Minister.
- Reason (R): Article 164 provides that the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor.
Assertion A is correct — in a hung Assembly, the Governor has real discretion in choosing whom to invite to form the government, and in S.R. Bommai (1994) the Supreme Court held that the majority must be tested on the floor of the House. Reason R is also correct, since Article 164(1) does state that the CM shall be appointed by the Governor. But R does NOT explain A — Article 164 only states who appoints the CM, while the discretion in a hung Assembly arises from the political situation and constitutional convention, not from the text of Article 164 itself.
- The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State.
- The Punchhi Commission recommended that the Governor be elected by the State Legislative Assembly.
- In B.P. Singhal v. Union of India (2010), the Supreme Court held that a Governor cannot be removed merely because of a change of government at the Centre.
Statement 1 is correct — the Sarkaria Commission (1988) recommended that the Governor be an eminent person from outside the State who is not too closely involved in local politics. Statement 2 is incorrect, since the Punchhi Commission (2010) did NOT recommend election of the Governor — it instead recommended a fixed five-year tenure and removal through a resolution of the State Legislature. Statement 3 is correct, as in B.P. Singhal (2010) the Supreme Court held that the President's pleasure is subject to judicial review, and a Governor cannot be removed arbitrarily or simply because the ruling party at the Centre has changed.
