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Q60 (IAS/2014) Polity & Governance › State Executive & Legislature › Governor discretionary powers Official Key

Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State? 1. Sending a report to the President of India for imposing the President's rule 2. Appointing the Ministers 3. Reserving certain bills passed by the State Legislature for consideration of the President of India 4. Making the rules to conduct the business of the State Government Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The Governor has constitutional discretion in recommending the imposition of the President's Rule in the state[1], and reserving a bill for the consideration of the President[1]. These are expressly mentioned discretionary powers.

However, appointing Ministers is not a discretionary power of the Governor. The Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister as head aids and advises the Governor in exercise of his functions except in so far as he is required to exercise his functions in his discretion[2]. The Governor appoints the Chief Minister and Ministers on the advice of the Chief Minister, not at his own discretion.

Similarly, while the Governor makes rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of the State and for the allocation among Ministers, this is done in so far as it is not business with respect to which the Governor is required to act in his discretion[3]. This means making rules for conducting state government business is generally done on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, not as a discretionary power.

Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct discretionary powers, making option B the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 30: Governor > CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION OF GOVERNOR > p. 321
  2. [2] https://knowindia.india.gov.in/profile/the-states.php
  3. [3] https://governor.telangana.gov.in/roleofgovernor.do
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Q. Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State? 1. Sending a report to the President of India for i…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 5/10 · 5/10
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This is a textbook 'Static Polity' question directly solvable from Laxmikanth (Chapter: Governor). It tests the fundamental distinction between 'Constitutional Discretion' (explicitly mentioned in Articles) and routine executive functions performed on 'Aid and Advice'. If you know the specific list of discretionary powers, this is a sitter.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is sending a report to the President recommending imposition of President's Rule in a state a discretionary power of the Governor of a State in India?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 30: Governor > CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION OF GOVERNOR > p. 321
Presence: 5/5
“The governor has constitutional discretion in the following cases: • 1. Reservation of a bill for the consideration of the President. • 2. Recommendation for the imposition of the President's Rule in the state. • 3. While exercising his/her functions as the administrator of an adjoining union territory (in case of additional charge). • 4. Determining the amount payable by the Government of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram to an autonomous Tribal District Council as royalty accruing from licenses for mineral exploration. In addition to the above constitutional discretion (Le., the express discretion mentioned in the Constitution), the governor, like the President, also has situational discretion (Le., the hidden discretion derived from the exigencies of a prevailing political situation) in the following cases: 1.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly lists ‘Recommendation for the imposition of the President's Rule in the state’ as an instance of the governor's constitutional discretion.
  • Uses the term ‘constitutional discretion’, indicating this is a recognised discretionary power under the Constitution.
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 30: Governor > Executive Powers > p. 316
Presence: 4/5
“He / she can recommend the imposition of constitutional emergency in a state to the President. During the period of President's rule in a state, the governor enjoys extensive executive powers as an agent of the President.”
Why this source?
  • States the governor ‘can recommend the imposition of constitutional emergency in a state to the President’, directly affirming the recommending power.
  • Links this recommending power to the governor’s executive role during President's Rule, showing practical effect.
Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 13: The State Executive > THE STATE EXECUTIVE > p. 273
Presence: 5/5
“consulted by the President in the appointment of the Chief Justice and the Judges of the High Court of the State. IV. Emergency Power. The Governor has no emergency powers7 to meet the situation arising from external aggression or armed rebellion as the President has [Article 352(1)), but he has the power to make a report to the President whenever he is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution [Article 356], thereby inviting the President to assume to himself the functions of the Government of the State or any of them. [This is popularly known as 'President's Rule'.] Appointment of At the head of a State Council of Ministers is the Chief Council of Ministers.”
Why this source?
  • Explains the governor ‘has the power to make a report to the President whenever he is satisfied that a situation has arisen’ under Article 356, i.e., to invite President's Rule.
  • Connects the report-making to Article 356 language, demonstrating the constitutional basis for the governor's discretion to report.
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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2025 · Q54 Relevance score: 2.84

Consider the following statements : I. The Constitution of India explicitly mentions that in certain spheres the Governor of a State acts in his/her own discretion. II. The President of India can, of his/her own, reserve a bill passed by a State Legislature for his/her consideration without it being forwarded by the Governor of the State concerned. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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CAPF · 2020 · Q56 Relevance score: 2.46

The Governor of a state may exercise discretionary powers when 1. he or she is not convinced by the advice of the Council of Ministers 2. the Constitution requires him/her to act in his/her discretion in certain matters 3. he or she is appointed as the administrator of an adjoining Union Territory Select the correct answer using the code given below:

CDS-II · 2011 · Q81 Relevance score: 2.08

Consider the following statements about the powers of the President of India : 1. The President can direct that any matter on which decision has been taken by a Minister should be placed before the Council of Ministers. 2. The President can call all information relating to proposals for legislation. 3. The President has the right to address and send messages to either House of the Parliament. 4. All decisions of the Council of Ministers relating to the adminis- tration of the Union must be communicated to the President. Which of the statements given above are correct ?