Governor of India, List, Powers, Position and Salary

Governor of India

The Governors of the State is the state’s constitutional leader, chosen for a five-year term by the President of India, as stated in Article 154 of the Indian Constitution. The governor’s name appears on all executive decisions made by the state, as they are the designated leaders of the state governments. There are currently 28 states and 8 union territories in India, each with its own governor. Although the governor is the de facto head of the state government, in actuality, he or she is bound to follow the chief minister’s, the popularly elected council of ministers, recommendations. The governor has several authorities, such as:

• Appointing the state government’s ministers, including the chief minister
• State legislature dissolution
• Appointing judges to the state supreme court
• Pardoning and providing reprieves
• Choosing a union territory’s deputy governor or administrator
• Serves as chancellor of the state university.

Who is the Governor of India?

Warren Hastings, who was appointed governor-general of Bengal in 1773, became the first governor of India. He was the first member of the British government to serve as governor-general of India. Later, in1858, the governor-general title was replaced with viceroy. During Independence between 1947 and 1948, Lord Mountbatten held the position of viceroy of India. The post of governor was established and the post of viceroy was eliminated following India’s independence in 1947. The office was abolished in 1950 when India became a republic, making Rajagopalachari the last Governor-General of India. Although the governor of India is in a strong position, most of its functions are ceremonial. The chief minister and the council of ministers hold real authority in the state government.

List of Governors of India

Check out the List of Governor of India in 2024 provided in the table below:

List of Governors of Union Territories

Check out the following table for governors appointed for respective Indian Union Territories:

India’s Governor Qualifications

• The applicant needs to be an Indian national.
• They have to be 35 years of age or older.
• For this position, no particular educational background is necessary.
• The candidate is not eligible to hold any paid positions with the federal, state, or local governments.
• They are not permitted to hold office as a Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Member of Parliament (MP) in any state or union territory.
• The candidate is not permitted to participate in politics or be an active member of any political party.
• After being appointed, they are required to abstain from political activity and impartially conduct their duties.
• The applicant is ineligible to work for any Public Sector Undertaking, the Federal Government, or State Government.
• They need to be in good mental health and not have any prior criminal convictions.

Power of Governor of India

India’s governor serves as the state’s constitutional head. The Indian president appoints him or her for a five-year tenure. The governor is endowed with several powers, such as:

• Appointing the chief minister and other state ministers: The governor, who has the backing of the majority in the State Legislative Assembly, selects the chief minister. On the chief minister’s recommendation, he or she also selects the other Council of Ministers members and assigns ministries to them.
• Dissolving the State Legislature: If the legislature is at a standstill or the assembly loses the majority in the administration, the governor may dissolve it.
• Governors nominate judges to the state’s supreme court on the chief justice’s recommendation.
• Granting reprieves and pardons: The governor may suspend, remit, or commute the sentence of any individual found guilty of any crime against any statute on an issue about the State’s executive branch. He may also award pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of penalty.
•  The governor appoints a union territory’s lieutenant governor or administrator.
• The governor serves as the state university’s chancellor.
• The governor is also the supreme commander of the state’s armed forces.

In reality, the chief minister’s suggestion is the only basis on which the governor uses this authority. Though mostly ceremonial, the governor can have a big impact on state politics, particularly during unstable political times. Additionally, the governor may utilize their authority to guarantee that the state government is according to the constitution and to restrain any abuses of power.

Salary of Governor of India

The salary of a governor of India is ₹350,000 per month. This includes basic pay, dearness allowance, and house rent allowance. The governor also receives many other allowances, such as an entertainment allowance, a medical allowance, and a travel allowance. The salary of a governor is fixed by the President of India under the Governors (Emoluments, Allowances and Privileges) Act, 1982. The salary of a governor is not subject to income tax. In addition to the salary, the governor also receives many other benefits, such as:

• A furnished residence
• A car with a driver
• A security detail
• A personal staff
• A medical allowance
• A travel allowance

The governor is also entitled to a pension after he/she retires. The pension is equal to the last drawn salary of the governor. The salary of a governor is a matter of public debate in India. Some people believe that the salary is too high, while others believe that it is fair. The salary of a governor is comparable to the salary of other high-ranking officials in India, such as the Chief Justice of India and the Prime Minister.

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