SSC
What is the minimum age required for appointment as the Governor of a state?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option B — 35 years
Detailed Solution
Under Article 157 of the Constitution, a person is eligible to be appointed as the Governor of a state only if he or she:
Is a citizen of India.
Has completed the age of 35 years.
These are the only two qualifications laid down in the Constitution.
In addition, Article 158 lays down the conditions of the Governor's office:
The Governor should not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of a state legislature. If such a person is appointed Governor, he or she is deemed to have vacated the seat on the date of taking office.
The Governor should not hold any other office of profit.
The Governor is entitled, without payment of rent, to the use of the official residence (Raj Bhavan).
The emoluments and allowances are decided by Parliament and cannot be reduced during the term of office.
When the same person is Governor of two or more states, the emoluments are shared among the states as the President decides.
Two conventions have developed in the appointment of Governors, following the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission and others:
The Governor should be an outsider, not belonging to the state where he or she is appointed, so that he or she is free from local politics.
The President should consult the Chief Minister of the state before appointing the Governor.
However, these conventions are not always followed.
The Governor is appointed by the President (Article 155) and holds office for five years, subject to the pleasure of the President (Article 156). The Supreme Court, in the B.P. Singhal case (2010), held that although the Governor holds office during the President's pleasure, he or she cannot be removed arbitrarily or merely because of a change in the government at the Centre.
Minimum ages for other offices:
- President, Vice-President and Governor: 35 years.
- Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council: 30 years.
- Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly: 25 years.
- Panchayat and municipality: 21 years.
Why not the other options?
- ✗25 years is the minimum age for the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.
- ✗30 years is the minimum age for the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils.
- ✗40 years is not a constitutional age requirement for any of these offices.
Quick tip
Remember: Governor = 35 years (Article 157), appointed by the President (Article 155), term 5 years at the President's pleasure (Article 156); B.P. Singhal case (2010) protects against arbitrary removal.
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State Executive & Legislature — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of State Executive & Legislature, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers government at the state level: the Governor, the Chief Minister and the State Council of Ministers, the Advocate General, the State Legislature, including the legislative councils in states that have them, and the special provisions for certain states. Questions usually cover the appointment and powers of the Governor, the Governor's discretionary powers, which states have a bicameral legislature, and how a legislative council is created or abolished (Article 169). Remember that the Governor is appointed by the President and holds office during the President's pleasure. Practise the state executive and legislature questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.