Governor Practice Questions
20 free Governor practice questions for the Indian Polity. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Which Article of the Indian Constitution states that there shall be a Governor for each State?
- A Article 152
- B Article 153
- C Article 155
- D Article 163
Correct answer: Article 153
Article 153 provides that there shall be a Governor for each State. The 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 added that the same person can be appointed as Governor for two or more States.
The Governor of a State is appointed by whom?
- A The Prime Minister
- B The Chief Minister of the State
- C The President of India
- D The Chief Justice of the High Court
Correct answer: The President of India
The Governor is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal. Unlike the President or Vice-President, the Governor is neither directly nor indirectly elected by an electoral college.
What is the minimum age qualification for a person to be appointed as the Governor of a State?
- A 25 years
- B 30 years
- C 35 years
- D 40 years
Correct answer: 35 years
Under Article 157, a person must be a citizen of India and have completed the age of 35 years to be eligible for appointment as Governor. These are the only two qualifications explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
The Governor holds office for a term of five years, but this is subject to:
- A The pleasure of the Prime Minister
- B The pleasure of the President
- C The approval of the State Legislature
- D A Rajya Sabha resolution
Correct answer: The pleasure of the President
Article 156(1) states that the Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. This means the President can remove the Governor at any time without providing a specific reason.
Who administers the oath of office to the Governor of a State?
- A The President of India
- B The Chief Justice of the High Court
- C The Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly
- D The outgoing Governor
Correct answer: The Chief Justice of the High Court
Under Article 159, the oath of office to the Governor is administered by the Chief Justice of the High Court exercising jurisdiction in relation to that State. In their absence, the senior-most judge of that court performs this duty.
In case of a vacancy in the office of the Governor, who usually discharges the functions of the Governor?
- A The Chief Minister
- B The Speaker of the Assembly
- C The Chief Justice of the State High Court
- D A person appointed by the Chief Justice of India
Correct answer: The Chief Justice of the State High Court
The Constitution does not explicitly provide for a 'Deputy Governor'. In practice, when a vacancy occurs unexpectedly, the Chief Justice of the relevant High Court may be appointed temporarily to discharge the functions of the Governor.
Which of the following executive powers is NOT exercised by the Governor?
- A Appointment of the Chief Minister
- B Appointment of the State Election Commissioner
- C Appointment of the Judges of the High Court
- D Appointment of the Chairman of the State Public Service Commission
Correct answer: Appointment of the Judges of the High Court
While the Governor is consulted, the Judges of the High Court are appointed by the President of India. The Governor does, however, appoint the Chief Minister, Advocate General, and members of the SPSC.
Which of the following correctly describes the current position on the Governor's power to nominate Anglo-Indian members to the State Legislative Assembly?
- A One member may be nominated
- B This nomination power has been abolished
- C Two members may be nominated
- D One-sixth of total members may be nominated
Correct answer: This nomination power has been abolished
The provision for the Governor to nominate one member of the Anglo-Indian community was abolished by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019. This amendment also ended the similar nomination in the Lok Sabha.
How many members does the Governor nominate to the State Legislative Council (where applicable)?
- A 1/3rd of the total members
- B 1/6th of the total members
- C 1/12th of the total members
- D 12 members
Correct answer: 1/6th of the total members
The Governor nominates 1/6th of the members of the State Legislative Council from persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art, cooperative movement, and social service.
Under which Article can the Governor issue an Ordinance when the State Legislature is not in session?
- A Article 123
- B Article 161
- C Article 213
- D Article 356
Correct answer: Article 213
Article 213 empowers the Governor to promulgate ordinances during the recess of the legislature. Such an ordinance has the same force as an act of the legislature but must be approved by the legislature within six weeks of its reassembly.
Which of the following is a discretionary power of the Governor?
- A Granting pardons to a person sentenced to death
- B Reserving a Bill for the President's consideration
- C Appointing the Council of Ministers in all circumstances
- D Dissolving the Rajya Sabha
Correct answer: Reserving a Bill for the President's consideration
Reserving a Bill for the President's consideration (Article 200) is a discretionary power of the Governor in most cases. However, the Governor is mandatorily required to reserve any Bill that would derogate from the powers of the State High Court.
The Governor's power under Article 161 differs from the President's power under Article 72 in that the Governor:
- A Can pardon sentences by Court Martial
- B Can only pardon minor civil offenses
- C Cannot pardon a death sentence
- D Cannot grant pardons at all
Correct answer: Cannot pardon a death sentence
The Governor cannot pardon a death sentence; even if a state law prescribes a death sentence, the power to grant a full pardon lies only with the President. However, the Governor can suspend, remit, or commute a death sentence.
When a Bill is sent to the Governor after being passed by the State Legislature, he can:
- A Give assent to the Bill
- B Withhold assent to the Bill
- C Return a non-Money Bill for reconsideration
- D All of the above
Correct answer: All of the above
Under Article 200, the Governor has four options: give assent, withhold assent, return the bill for reconsideration (once), or reserve the bill for the President's consideration.
Whose prior recommendation is necessary for the introduction of a Money Bill in the State Legislative Assembly?
- A The Chief Minister
- B The Speaker of the Assembly
- C The Governor of the State
- D The Finance Minister
Correct answer: The Governor of the State
Just as in the Union Parliament where the President's recommendation is needed, a Money Bill cannot be introduced in the State Legislative Assembly except on the recommendation of the Governor.
The 'Contingency Fund of the State' is placed at the disposal of:
- A The Chief Minister
- B The Governor of the State
- C The State Finance Minister
- D The Comptroller and Auditor General
Correct answer: The Governor of the State
The Contingency Fund of the State is at the disposal of the Governor to enable him to make advances for meeting unforeseen expenditure pending authorization by the State Legislature.
Which Article deals with the duty of the Chief Minister to furnish information to the Governor?
- A Article 164
- B Article 167
- C Article 174
- D Article 175
Correct answer: Article 167
Article 167 defines the duties of the Chief Minister, which include communicating all decisions of the Council of Ministers to the Governor and furnishing such information relating to the administration as the Governor may call for.
The Governor can recommend the imposition of Constitutional Emergency (President's Rule) in a State under which Article?
- A Article 352
- B Article 356
- C Article 360
- D Article 368
Correct answer: Article 356
Under Article 356, if the Governor is satisfied that the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, he can submit a report to the President recommending the imposition of President's Rule.
Who acts as the Chancellor of Universities in the State?
- A The Education Minister
- B The Chief Minister
- C The Governor of the State
- D The Chief Justice of the High Court
Correct answer: The Governor of the State
By virtue of his office, the Governor acts as the Chancellor of most universities in the State. In this capacity, he appoints the Vice-Chancellors of these universities.
If the same person is appointed as Governor of two or more States, the emoluments and allowances payable to him are:
- A Paid entirely by the Union Government
- B Allocated among States by the President
- C Paid entirely by the larger State
- D Doubled automatically for each new State
Correct answer: Allocated among States by the President
When a person is appointed Governor of more than one State, the emoluments and allowances are allocated among the States in such proportion as the President may by order determine.
Which committee/commission recommended that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state and should not have been active in politics in the recent past?
- A Sarkaria Commission
- B Mandal Commission Report
- C Shah Commission of Inquiry
- D Justice Verma Committee
Correct answer: Sarkaria Commission
The Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State Relations (1983) made several recommendations regarding the office of the Governor to ensure impartiality and maintain the federal balance.