MockSutra

State Government

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25 SI questionsIndian PolityFree during launch
General Awareness: all chapters
The Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh with its curved concrete roof and tall tower, reflected in a pool
The Palace of Assembly, Capitol Complex, Chandigarh, designed by Le Corbusier. It houses the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (117 seats) and the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. Image: UnpetitproleX, 2021 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Every state is run on the same plan as the Union. The Governor is the head of the state, like the President. The Chief Minister runs the government, like the Prime Minister. The State Legislature makes the state's laws, like Parliament. All of this is in Part VI of the Constitution.

153–167
Articles
State executive
35
Governor's minimum age
Article 157
6
States with a Council
Vidhan Parishad
117
Punjab Vidhan Sabha
One House since 1970

The Governor: who and how

Appointed, not elected, and holds office at the President's pleasure.

Article 153 says there shall be a Governor for each state. The 7th Amendment (1956) allowed one person to be Governor of two or more states. The Governor is the nominal head of the state. Real power lies with the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.

The President is elected, but the Governor is appointed by the President (Article 155). In practice the Union government chooses. The Constituent Assembly preferred this because an elected Governor could clash with the elected Chief Minister.

PointRule
AppointmentBy the President by warrant under his hand and seal (Article 155).
Term5 years, but holds office during the pleasure of the President (Article 156).
QualificationsCitizen of India, at least 35 years old (Article 157).
ConditionsNot a member of any legislature; no office of profit. Pay fixed by Parliament (Article 158).
OathGiven by the Chief Justice of the state High Court (Article 159).
ResignationWritten to the President.
RemovalNo impeachment. The President can remove or transfer him at any time.
The Governor at a glance
KEY TERM
During the pleasure of the President

The Governor's five-year term is not secure. The President, acting on Union advice, can remove him without giving a reason. The Supreme Court (B. P. Singhal case, 2010) said this power still cannot be used in an arbitrary way, for example just because a new party wins at the Centre.

President appoints→Five-year term→Can be removed any time→Not arbitrarily (2010 ruling)
The gated entrance of Raj Bhavan in Pune with a guard post and trees
Entrance of Raj Bhavan, Pune, a residence of the Governor of Maharashtra. Each Governor lives and works in a Raj Bhavan. Article 159: the Governor's oath is given by the Chief Justice of the High Court. Image: DesiBoy101, 2023 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police Constable 2025 In 2024, the Governor of Gujarat approved a bill to ban the sale of liquor in cities. Which Article of the Indian Constitution defines the office of the Governor?
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QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2023 Which of the following Constitutional Amendment Acts made it possible to appoint the same person as Governor for two or more states?
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QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2023 In India, Who administers the oath or affirmation to the Governor?
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The Governor's powers and discretion

Four kinds of power, plus a few decisions he takes on his own.

Executive
Appoints

The Chief Minister, other ministers, the Advocate General, the State Election Commissioner and State PSC members.

Legislative
Summons and assents

Summons and prorogues the legislature, dissolves the Assembly, gives assent to bills, issues ordinances (Article 213).

Financial
Money matters

No Money Bill or demand for grants without his recommendation. The state budget is laid in his name.

Judicial
Pardons

Can pardon, reprieve, respite, remit or commute sentences for offences against state law (Article 161).

Most of these powers are used on the advice of the Council of Ministers (Article 163).

WHAT HAPPENS TO A STATE BILL (ARTICLES 200 AND 201)
  1. Bill passed by the legislature
    It goes to the Governor.
  2. Governor's four choices
    Assent, withhold assent, return it for reconsideration (not a Money Bill), or reserve it for the President.
  3. If returned and passed again
    The Governor must assent.
  4. If reserved (Article 201)
    The President may assent or withhold. He can ask the House to reconsider within 6 months, but even then he is not bound to assent.
A bill that would weaken the High Court's powers must be reserved for the President.
ARTICLE 163: WHERE THE GOVERNOR USES DISCRETION

The Council of Ministers aids and advises the Governor "except in so far as he is required … to exercise his functions … in his discretion". The President has no such clause. Common cases: reserving a bill for the President, reporting for President's Rule (Article 356), choosing a Chief Minister in a hung Assembly, and dismissing a ministry that has lost its majority. If a doubt arises whether a matter is discretionary, the Governor's decision is final (Article 163(2)).

PARDONING POWER: PRESIDENT VS GOVERNOR
President (Art. 72)
Governor (Art. 161)
Laws covered
Union laws
State laws
Court martial
Yes
No
Death sentence
Can pardon it
Can suspend, remit or commute; exam books say not pardon
Both can grant all five forms: pardon, commutation, remission, respite, reprieve.
QUICK FACT

Ordinances (Article 213): the Governor can issue one only when the legislature is not in session. It must be approved within 6 weeks of the House meeting again, or it lapses. Like the President's ordinance, it is issued on ministerial advice.

Court rulings and the 2025 assent debateTap to open
  • S. R. Bommai (1994): a ministry's majority must be tested on the floor of the House, not by the Governor's opinion.
  • B. P. Singhal (2010): the President may remove a Governor without reasons, but not arbitrarily.
  • Tamil Nadu case (April 2025): a two-judge bench set time limits for Governors to act on bills.
  • Presidential reference (November 2025): a five-judge bench said courts cannot fix deadlines and there is no "deemed assent". But long, unexplained delay can be reviewed by a court, which may ask the Governor to act.

The Sarkaria Commission (1988) said a Governor should be an eminent person from outside the state, not recently active in politics, chosen after consulting the Chief Minister. The Punchhi Commission (2010) suggested removing the words "during the pleasure of the President". Neither has been made law.

QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police Constable 2025 In 2024, the West Bengal Assembly passed a law to improve school safety after a Kolkata building collapse. Which Article of the Indian constitution gives the Governor the power to approve such state laws?
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QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC PRIN 2020 Consider the following statements about the Governor : I. He submits his resignation letter to the Chief Justice of the State. II. He should have completed 35 years of age. III. His emoluments, allowances and privileges are determined by the President. IV. No criminal proceedings can be instituted against him. Which of the statements given above are incorrect ?
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The Chief Minister and Council of Ministers

Articles 163, 164 and 167: the real executive of the state.

The Chief Minister is the real head of the state government. Article 164 says the Governor appoints the Chief Minister, and the other ministers on the CM's advice. By convention the Governor appoints the leader the majority party's MLAs elect. If no one has a clear majority, the Governor uses discretion and may ask the new CM to prove his majority on the floor.

PointRule
Non-member ministerMust become an MLA or MLC within six months (Article 164(4)).
Answerable toCollectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly (Article 164(2)).
SizeAt most 15% of Assembly strength, but at least 12 (Article 164(1A), 91st Amendment).
OathGiven by the Governor: oath of office and secrecy.
CM's dutyTell the Governor all Cabinet decisions and give information he asks for (Article 167).
Tribal welfare ministerMust exist in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Rules for the state Council of Ministers
PRIME MINISTER VS CHIEF MINISTER
Prime Minister
Chief Minister
Appointed by
President (Art. 75)
Governor (Art. 164)
Answerable to
Lok Sabha
Vidhan Sabha
Duty to inform
Article 78
Article 167
Ministry size
Up to 15%, no minimum
Up to 15%, minimum 12
If the CM dies or resigns, the whole state Council of Ministers ends with him.
QUICK FACT

Advocate General (Article 165): the state's top lawyer. Appointed by the Governor, must be qualified to be a High Court judge, and holds office at the Governor's pleasure. He can speak in the state legislature but cannot vote.

Firsts to remember
Black-and-white portrait of a young Sarojini Naidu with her hair tied back
Sarojini Naidu
1879–1949 · Governor, United Provinces, 1947
  • India's first woman Governor
  • Known as the Nightingale of India
Unknown photographer, 1912 · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Sucheta Kripalani
1908–1974 · CM, Uttar Pradesh, 1963
  • India's first woman Chief Minister
Rajinder Kaur Bhattal
born 1945 · CM, Punjab, 1996–97
  • Punjab's first woman Chief Minister
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police Constable 2025 How is the Chief Minister of a state chosen after elections?
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QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police Constable 2024 According to the Indian Constitution, the number of members of the Council of Ministers, including the Chief Minister in a State, shall not be less than _______.
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PYQ · Punjab Police Constable 2025 As per the Indian Constitution, to whom is the duty assigned to inform the Governor about all decisions taken by the Council of Ministers?
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Also asked: when a CM dies, and the Governor's rankTap to open
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · PPSC PCSEB 2018 In the event of the death of a Chief Minister
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QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2023 Which of the following holds the next position in rank and precedence? 1.President, 2. Vice- President, 3. Prime Minister, 4. ______________
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The State Legislature

Every state has a Vidhan Sabha; only six have a Vidhan Parishad.

Under Article 168, a state legislature is the Governor plus one or two Houses. The Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) is the lower House, directly elected. A few states also have a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). Articles 168 to 212 cover the state legislature.

VIDHAN SABHA VS VIDHAN PARISHAD
Vidhan Sabha
Vidhan Parishad
Exists in
Every state
Six states
Members
60 to 500 (Art. 170)
40 to one-third of Assembly (Art. 171)
Chosen
Directly by people
Mostly indirectly; one-sixth nominated
Minimum age
25
30
Term
5 years; can be dissolved
Permanent; members 6 years
Money Bill
Starts only here
Can delay only 14 days
Small states are exceptions to the 60 minimum: Sikkim 32, Goa 40, Mizoram 40.
  • Council make-up: one-third elected by local bodies, one-third by MLAs, one-twelfth by graduates, one-twelfth by teachers, one-sixth nominated by the Governor.
  • One-third of Council members retire every 2 years.
  • On an ordinary bill the Council can only delay it: up to 3 months the first time and 1 month the second. There is no joint sitting in a state.
  • The Speaker decides whether a bill is a Money Bill. Money Bills cannot start in the Council (Article 198).
  • The gap between two sessions cannot be more than 6 months (Article 174).
CREATING OR ABOLISHING A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ARTICLE 169)
  1. State Assembly passes a resolution
    By a majority of total membership and two-thirds of members present and voting.
  2. Parliament passes a law
    By a simple majority. It is not treated as a constitutional amendment under Article 368.
  3. Council created or abolished
    Example: Tamil Nadu abolished its Council in 1986; Punjab in 1970.
The white stone Vidhana Soudha building in Bengaluru with a central dome and wide steps
Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, seat of the Karnataka legislature. Karnataka is one of the six states with a Legislative Council: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. Image: Moheen Reeyad · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2023 With reference to the State Legislative Assembly in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. To become a member of the Legislative Assembly, a person must be 30 years of age. 2. The number of members of the Legislative Assembly cannot exceed 500. 3. The total number of members in the Legislative Council of a state should not be more than half the total members of the Legislative Assembly.
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QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2023 In India resolution for abolition or creation of Legislative Council has to be passed by a majority of not less than _________ of the members of the Assembly present and voting.
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QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police Constable 2025 Which of the following states does NOT have a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)?
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Punjab's government and legislature

One House, 117 seats, and a Governor with an extra job.

Wide view of the Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh with its large concrete portico and open plaza
The Palace of Assembly seen across the Capitol Complex plaza. The Capitol Complex is part of Le Corbusier's works listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2016). Image: duncid, 2006 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Punjab has a unicameral legislature: only the Vidhan Sabha, with 117 seats, 34 of them reserved for Scheduled Castes. Punjab once had a Legislative Council, but it was abolished on 1 January 1970. The Governor of Punjab also works as the Administrator of Chandigarh, the Union Territory that is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.

PUNJAB'S LEGISLATURE SINCE 1952
  1. 1952
    Two Houses

    Punjab starts with a Vidhan Sabha and a Legislative Council.

  2. 1956
    PEPSU merges

    The Assembly grows as PEPSU joins Punjab.

  3. 1966
    Reorganisation

    Haryana is carved out; Punjab's Assembly shrinks.

  4. 1970
    Council abolished

    From 1 January 1970 Punjab has one House only.

  5. 1977
    117 seats

    The Vidhan Sabha reaches its present size of 117.

QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police Constable 2021 The Upper House i.e. Legislative Council of Punjab was abolished on 1st January _____.
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QUICK CHECK
PYQ · Punjab Police SI 2016 How many seats are there in the Punjab Legislative assembly ?
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Everything on one look

Articles, numbers and the Union–state differences.

KEY NUMBERS
  • Governor: 35 years, 5-year term
  • State ministry: 15% cap, minimum 12
  • Assembly: 60 to 500; Council: 40 to one-third
  • Ages: MLA 25, MLC 30
  • Council: one-third retire every 2 years
  • Max gap between sessions: 6 months
KEY ARTICLES
  • 153: a Governor for each state
  • 155/156: appointment; pleasure of President
  • 161: pardon; 163: advice and discretion
  • 164: CM and ministers; 167: CM's duties
  • 169: create or abolish a Council
  • 200/201: assent and reservation; 213: ordinance
UNION VS STATE
Union
State
Head
President, elected
Governor, appointed
Removal of head
Impeachment
At President's pleasure
Discretion clause
None in Art. 74
Yes, Art. 163
Upper House
Rajya Sabha, always
Council in six states
Joint sitting
Yes (Art. 108)
No
COMMON TRAPS
  • The Governor is appointed by the President, not by the Union Cabinet or elected by MLAs.
  • The Governor's oath is given by the High Court Chief Justice, not the CJI or the President.
  • The Governor resigns to the President; his pay is fixed by Parliament.
  • One Governor for two or more states came with the 7th Amendment (1956).
  • MLA minimum age is 25; MLC is 30; Governor is 35.
  • A Council can be at most one-third of the Assembly, not half.
  • Article 169 needs the Assembly to act first; Parliament then uses a simple majority.
  • Punjab's Council was abolished in 1970; Punjab is unicameral.
  • There is no joint sitting in a state legislature.
QUICK BYTES
  • Part VI: the states
  • State executive: Articles 153–167
  • State legislature: Articles 168–212
  • Governor appointed by: the President
  • Governor's oath: High Court Chief Justice
  • Same Governor for 2+ states: 7th Amendment
  • Governor's discretion: Article 163
  • Assent to state bills: Article 200
  • Bills reserved for President: Article 201
  • Governor's ordinance: Article 213
  • CM's duties to Governor: Article 167
  • Advocate General: Article 165
  • First woman Governor: Sarojini Naidu
  • First woman CM: Sucheta Kripalani
  • Punjab Vidhan Sabha: 117 seats
  • Punjab Council abolished: 1 January 1970
CHECK YOURSELF

A state Assembly passes a bill that cuts the powers of the High Court. The Governor also wants to return a Money Bill for changes. What can he do in each case?

Show answer

A bill that weakens the High Court must be reserved for the President under Article 200; the President then decides under Article 201. A Money Bill cannot be returned for reconsideration; the Governor can only assent, withhold assent or reserve it.