Current Chief Ministers and Governors: In the context of the Constitution of India, the roles of Chief Ministers and Governors are defined under various articles, delineating their powers, functions, and duties within the framework of the state governments.
Chief Minister
The Chief Minister (CM) is the head of the state government and is appointed by the Governor. The CM’s role is pivotal in the administration of the state, similar to the role of the Prime Minister at the central level.
Appointment and Tenure
- Article 164: The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor of the state. The CM is usually the leader of the majority party in the state legislative assembly.
- The tenure of the CM is not fixed and is subject to the confidence of the state legislative assembly. The CM can be dismissed by the Governor if they lose the confidence of the assembly.
Powers and Functions
- Executive Powers: The CM is responsible for the overall administration of the state. They allocate and reshuffle portfolios among the ministers.
- Legislative Powers: The CM plays a key role in legislative functions, including the introduction of bills and representing the government in the legislative assembly.
- Policy Making: The CM sets the policy agenda and oversees its implementation.
- Advisory Role: The CM advises the Governor on various matters, including the appointment of other ministers and legislative matters.
Governor
The Governor is the constitutional head of the state, acting as the representative of the President of India in the state.
Appointment and Tenure
- Article 155: The Governor is appointed by the President of India.
- Article 156: The Governor holds office for a term of five years but can be removed earlier by the President. They can also resign from office.
Powers and Functions
- Executive Powers: The Governor appoints the Chief Minister and other ministers. They also appoint the Advocate General and State Election Commissioner.
- Legislative Powers: The Governor summons, prorogues, and dissolves the state legislative assembly. They address the assembly at the beginning of the first session after each general election and the first session of each year.
- Judicial Powers: The Governor has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment for offences against laws related to matters within the state’s executive power.
- Discretionary Powers: The Governor can act at their discretion in certain cases, such as the reservation of a bill for the consideration of the President.
Relationship and Constitutional Framework
The relationship between the Chief Minister and the Governor is defined by the principles of parliamentary democracy and federalism, as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
- Governor’s Role as a Nominal Head: While the Governor is the nominal head of the state, the real executive powers lie with the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.
- Council of Ministers: According to Article 163, the Council of Ministers with the CM at the head aids and advises the Governor in the exercise of their functions, except in cases where the Governor is required to act in their discretion.
- Checks and Balances: The Constitution ensures a system of checks and balances where the Governor’s discretionary powers act as a check on the executive authority of the state government, while the CM and the Council of Ministers ensure the implementation of policies and administration.
Here is the list of current Chief Ministers (CMs) and Governors of Indian states and Union Territories as of 2024:
List Of Current Chief Ministers and Governors , State Wise
| States | Chief Minister | Governor |
| Andhra Pradesh | Chandrababu Naidu | S. Abdul Nazeer |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Pema Khandu | Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik |
| Assam | Himanta Biswa Sarma | Gulab Chand Kataria |
| Bihar | Nitish Kumar | Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar |
| Chhattisgarh | Vishnu Deo Sai | Justice (Retd) Biswa Bhusan Harichandan |
| Goa | Pramod Sawant | P.S. Sgreedharan |
| Gujarat | Bhupendra Patel | Acharaya Devvrat |
| Haryana | Nayab Singh Saini | Bandaru Dattatraya |
| Himachal Pradesh | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu | Shiv Pratap Shukla |
| Jharkhand | Champai Soren | C.P. Radhakrishnan |
| Karnataka | Siddaramaiah | Thawar Chand Gehlot |
| Kerala | Pinarayi Vijayan | Arif Mohammed Khan |
| Madhya Pradesh | Mohan Yadav | Mangubhai Chaganbhai Patel |
| Maharashtra | Eknath Shinde | Ramesh Bais |
| Manipur | N. Biren Singh | Anusuiya Uikye |
| Meghalaya | Conrad Kongkal Sangma | Phagu Chauhan |
| Mizoram | PU Lalduhoma | Dr. Kambhampati Haribabu |
| Nagaland | Neiphiu Rio | Shri La. Ganesan |
| Odisha | Mohan Charan Majhi | Raghubar Das |
| Punjab | Bhagwant Singh Mann | – |
| Rajasthan | Bhajan Lal Sharma | Kalraj Mishra |
| Sikkim | PS Golay | Lakshman Prasad Acharya |
| Tamil Nadu | M.K Stalin | R.N. Ravi |
| Telangana | Anumula Revanth Reddy | Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan |
| Tripura | Dr. Manik Saha | Indra Sena Reddy Nallu |
| Uttar Pradesh | Yogi Adityanath | Anandiben Patel |
| Uttarakhand | Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami | Gurmit Singh |
| West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee | Dr CV Ananda Bose |
List of Current Chief Ministers and Governors , UT Wise
| Union Territory | Governor | Capital |
| Andaman & Nicobar | Shri. Devendra Kumar Joshi (Lieutenant Governor) | Port Blair |
| Chandigarh | Shri Banwarilal Purohit (Administrator) | Chandigarh |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Shri Praful Patel (Administrator) | Daman |
| Delhi | Vinal Kumar Saxena (Lieutenant Governor) | New Delhi |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Shri Manoj Sinha (Lieutenant Governor) | Srinagar |
| Lakshadweep | Shri Praful Patel (Administrator) | Kavaratti |
| Puducherry | Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan | Puducherry |
| Ladakh | Brig (Dr) B D Mishra (Retd) | Leh |
FAQs about Chief Ministers and Governors in India
Q1: How is a Chief Minister appointed in India?
A1: The Chief Minister (CM) of a state is appointed by the Governor of the state. Typically, the CM is the leader of the majority party or coalition in the state legislative assembly. The process is outlined in Article 164 of the Indian Constitution.
Q2: What are the main functions of a Chief Minister?
A2: The Chief Minister has several key responsibilities:
- Allocating and reshuffling portfolios among the ministers.
- Setting the policy agenda and overseeing its implementation.
- Acting as the chief spokesperson for the state government.
- Advising the Governor on the appointment of other ministers.
Q3: How is a Governor appointed, and what is their term of office?
A3: A Governor is appointed by the President of India and holds office for a term of five years, although they can be removed earlier by the President. The appointment process is specified in Article 155, and the term details are given in Article 156 of the Indian Constitution.
Q4: What are the main functions of a Governor?
A4: The Governor has several important functions, including:
- Appointing the Chief Minister and other ministers.
- Summoning, proroguing, and dissolving the state legislative assembly.
- Granting pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment.
- Acting as a nominal head of the state while the real executive powers lie with the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.
Q5: What is the relationship between the Chief Minister and the Governor?
A5: The relationship is characterized by a balance of power, where the Governor acts as the nominal head of the state and the Chief Minister holds the real executive powers. The Governor acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, except in certain discretionary cases. This framework ensures checks and balances within the state government.
Q6: Can a Governor refuse to sign a bill passed by the state legislature?
A6: Yes, a Governor can refuse to sign a bill and can reserve it for the consideration of the President of India if they believe it is in conflict with the Constitution or the laws of the land. This is part of the Governor’s discretionary powers.
Q7: What is the role of the Chief Minister in state policy-making?
A7: The Chief Minister plays a crucial role in state policy-making by setting the policy agenda, introducing bills in the state legislature, and ensuring that the government’s policies are implemented effectively. The CM is the key figure in driving the legislative and executive agenda of the state government.