Q40. Which Governor functions involve discretion:
(1) Report recommending President’s Rule.
(2) Appointing ministers regardless of the Chief Minister.
(3) Reserving a Bill for the President.
(4) Framing ordinary transaction rules without advice?
[UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2014]
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 1 and 3
(C) 2, 3 and 4
(D) All four
Answer: (B) 1 and 3
Explanation: Reporting breakdown of constitutional machinery under Article 356 and reserving Bills under Article 200 may involve gubernatorial discretion. Ordinary ministerial appointments follow the Chief Minister’s advice, and business rules do not create unrestricted personal discretion.
Q39. Who normally administers the Governor’s oath?
[UPPCS Mains 2014]
(A) President
(B) Chief Justice of India
(C) Chief Justice of the State High Court
(D) Outgoing Governor
Answer: (C) Chief Justice of the State High Court
Explanation: Article 159 assigns administration of the Governor’s oath to the High Court Chief Justice, or the senior-most available judge of that High Court if necessary. The constitutional oath is not in the Third Schedule.
Q38. Which statement is correct concerning State Governors?
[UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2013]
(A) One person cannot govern two States
(B) Governors appoint High Court judges
(C) No detailed removal procedure is prescribed by the Constitution
(D) Lieutenant Governors alone appoint every Union Territory Chief Minister
Answer: (C) No detailed removal procedure is prescribed by the Constitution
Explanation: The Constitution does not prescribe a Governor’s impeachment or detailed removal procedure. Article 156 states that the Governor holds office at the President’s pleasure. One person may govern several States, and High Court judges are appointed by the President.
Q37. Consider Governor’s oath:
(1) It is required before entering office.
(2) Its form appears in the Third Schedule.
(3) It is administered before the High Court Chief Justice or senior available judge.
(4) Article 159 governs it.
Which are correct?
[RAS/RTS Prelims 2013]
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 1, 3 and 4
(C) 1, 2 and 4
(D) All four
Answer: (B) 1, 3 and 4
Explanation: Article 159 specifies both the oath and the authority administering it. Governors take this oath before entering office. The Third Schedule does not supply the Governor’s oath, so statement two is incorrect.
Q36. Who administers the Governor’s oath of office under Article 159?
[UPPCS Mains 2013]
(A) President
(B) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
(C) Chief Justice of State High Court
(D) Chief Minister
Answer: (C) Chief Justice of State High Court
Explanation: The Chief Justice of the jurisdictional High Court is designated to administer the Governor’s oath. In the Chief Justice’s absence, the senior-most judge of the High Court who is available performs the function.
Q35. Who was India’s first woman Governor after independence?
[UPPCS Mains 2013]
(A) Sarojini Naidu
(B) Sucheta Kripalani
(C) Indira Gandhi
(D) Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Answer: (A) Sarojini Naidu
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu was appointed Governor of the United Provinces in 1947. The State was later renamed Uttar Pradesh. She should not be confused with Sucheta Kripalani, the first woman Chief Minister.
Q34. Who appoints a State Governor in India?
[UPPCS Prelims 2012]
(A) Union Cabinet directly
(B) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
(C) Speaker of the Lok Sabha
(D) President of India
Answer: (D) President of India
Explanation: The formal constitutional appointment is made by the President of India under Article 155. There is no direct State popular election or legislative vote to select a Governor.
Q33. Which of these posts is NOT appointed by the State Governor?
[Uttarakhand PCS Prelims 2012]
(A) Chief Minister
(B) State Public Service Commission members
(C) High Court judge
(D) Advocate-General
Answer: (C) High Court judge
Explanation: Judges of State High Courts are appointed by the President under Article 217, after required consultations. The Governor formally appoints Chief Ministers, State PSC members and Advocates-General under separate constitutional provisions.
Q32. Who is the constitutional head of government in an Indian State?
[BPSC 53rd–55th Combined Prelims 2011]
(A) Chief Minister
(B) Governor
(C) Assembly Speaker
(D) High Court Judge
Answer: (B) Governor
Explanation: The Governor is the formal constitutional head, while the elected Chief Minister and Council of Ministers perform most day-to-day executive functions. The two roles differ under India’s parliamentary constitutional design.
Q31. Consider: Governor
(1) appointed by President,
(2) holds office during President’s pleasure,
(3) is constitutional executive head,
(4) normally serves five years.
Choose correctly.
[UP GIC 2010]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1, 2 and 3 only
(C) 2, 3 and 4 only
(D) All four
Answer: (D) All four
Explanation: All four statements broadly describe Articles 154–156. Governors are presidential appointees with normally five-year terms, serving during presidential pleasure; State executive authority is constitutionally vested in them.
