Q1. Who appoints the Governor of an Indian state?
- The Chief Minister of the state
- The President of India
- The Parliament of India
- The Prime Minister of India
Correct Option: 2. The President of India
Explanation: The Governor of a state is appointed by the President of India under the Constitution of India. This appointment is made through a warrant under the President’s hand and seal. The Governor does not come through direct elections or via an electoral college like the President of India.
Q2. What is the primary qualification for an individual to be appointed as the Governor of a state in India?
- He/She must be at least 30 years old
- He/She must be a member of the Parliament
- He/She must be a citizen of India and at least 35 years old
- He/She must be a resident of the state for at least 5 years
Correct Option: 3. He/She must be a citizen of India and at least 35 years old
Explanation: The Constitution of India specifies only two qualifications for a person to be appointed as a Governor:
(1) The individual must be a citizen of India.
(2) The individual must have completed the age of 35 years.
There are no specific requirements regarding the individual’s residence in the state, nor does the person need to be a member of the state legislature or the Parliament.
Q3. What is the tenure of the Governor’s office?
- 5 years, subject to the pleasure of the President
- 6 years, subject to the approval of the Chief Minister
- 4 years, renewable after re-election
- 5 years, fixed tenure
Correct Option: 1. 5 years, subject to the pleasure of the President.
Explanation: A Governor holds office for a term of five years from the date of appointment. However, this term is subject to the pleasure of the President. This means that the President can remove the Governor at any time and the Governor has no guaranteed tenure.
Q4. Which of the following is a privilege enjoyed by the Governor during their tenure?
- Immunity from civil suits
- Immunity from criminal proceedings for official acts
- Immunity from all forms of legal action
- Immunity from any form of investigation during their term
Correct Option: 2. Immunity from criminal proceedings for official acts
Explanation: The Governor enjoys immunity from criminal proceedings during his tenure for actions performed in the discharge of official duties. However, they are not entirely immune from civil proceedings; civil proceedings can be initiated against the Governor for personal acts after a two-month notice. The immunity is limited to official acts and does not extend to personal actions.
Q5. Which of the following is NOT one of the conventions followed while appointing a Governor?
- The Governor should be an outsider to the state where they are appointed.
- The President should consult the Chief Minister of the state before making the appointment.
- The Governor should have previous political experience at the national level.
- The Governor must not be a member of the state legislature.
Correct Option: 3. The Governor should have previous political experience at the national level.
Explanation: While it is a convention for the Governor to be an outsider to the state (to avoid local political biases), and for the President to consult the Chief Minister before making the appointment, there is no requirement for the Governor to have previous political experience at the national level. The Constitution specifies that the Governor should not be a member of the state legislature or any other office of profit. The Governor’s primary role is to maintain impartiality and act as a constitutional head.