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State Government – UPSC GS2

This module of the GS Paper 2: Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR course covers governor, chief minister and the state legislature. It has 2 study lessons and a 16-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. The Governor: Appointment, Powers and Discretion

Free 8 min

Part VI of the Constitution (Articles 152–237) deals with the states. The Governor is the chief executive head (nominal head) of a state and also acts as an agent of the Central government. This dual…

2. Chief Minister, State Council of Ministers and State Legislature

Premium 7 min

The Chief Minister is the real executive head of the state – the counterpart of the Prime Minister. Article 164 says the CM is appointed by the Governor; by convention, the Governor appoints the leader…

 Module quiz: State Government (16 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

Flowchart of the four options before the Governor when a state bill is presented
Courts have held that the Governor cannot keep bills pending indefinitely.
Two cards contrasting the constitutional and situational discretionary powers of the Governor
Nabam Rebia (2016) confined discretion to situations the Constitution allows.
Donut chart showing a legislative council: one-third elected by local bodies, one-third by MLAs, one-sixth nominated, one-twelfth by graduates and one-twelfth by teachers
Five-sixths of the council is indirectly elected; one-sixth is nominated by the Governor.
Map of India highlighting the six states with legislative councils: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka
Councils are created or abolished under Article 169 at the request of the state assembly.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: The Governor: Appointment, Powers and Discretion; Chief Minister, State Council of Ministers and State Legislature.

Answer: Chief Justice of the High Court. Article 159.

Answer: B.P. Singhal. B.P. Singhal (2010).

Answer: endangers the position of the High Court. Article 200 proviso.

Answer: One-sixth. One-sixth.

Related modules

Polity and the Constitution4 lessons
Constitution Making and Basic Features5 lessons
Fundamental Rights5 lessons
DPSP and Fundamental Duties2 lessons
Union Executive4 lessons
Parliament3 lessons
Judiciary4 lessons
Federalism and Centre–State Relations5 lessons
Local Government3 lessons
Constitutional Bodies and Elections4 lessons
Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial Bodies3 lessons
Amendments and Basic Structure2 lessons
Governance2 lessons
Governance in Practice4 lessons
Social Justice2 lessons
Welfare of Vulnerable Sections3 lessons
Health, Education and Hunger3 lessons
International Relations2 lessons
India and its Neighbourhood5 lessons
India and the Major Powers4 lessons
India and the Wider World5 lessons

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