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New Governors in states, UT: TN’s Ravi replaces Bose in Bengal ahead of polls, Hasnain for Bihar, Sandhu gets Delhi

March 05, 2026 5 min read Polity & Governance GS Paper 2
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What Happened

  • President Droupadi Murmu carried out a major gubernatorial reshuffle on 5 March 2026, affecting nine states and Union Territories.
  • R.N. Ravi was transferred from Tamil Nadu to West Bengal, replacing C.V. Ananda Bose who resigned. Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was given additional charge of Tamil Nadu.
  • Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain was appointed Governor of Bihar; former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, replacing Vinai Kumar Saxena.
  • Other key changes: Shiv Pratap Shukla moved from Himachal Pradesh to Telangana, Jishnu Dev Varma from Telangana to Maharashtra, Kavinder Gupta (from Ladakh LG) to Himachal Pradesh Governor, and Vinai Kumar Saxena was posted as LG of Ladakh.
  • Nand Kishore Yadav, former Bihar Assembly Speaker, was appointed Governor of Nagaland.

Static Topic Bridges

Constitutional Framework for Governor Appointments (Articles 153-162)

Part VI of the Indian Constitution (Articles 153 to 167) deals with the State Executive, with Articles 153 to 162 specifically addressing the Governor's office. Article 153 mandates a Governor for each state, though the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act (1956) allows one person to be appointed as Governor of two or more states. Article 155 provides that the Governor is appointed by the President, and Article 156 establishes that the Governor holds office "during the pleasure of the President."

  • Article 153: There shall be a Governor for each State (but one Governor can head two or more states).
  • Article 155: Appointment by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
  • Article 156(1): Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President; (2) five-year term; (3) continues in office until successor enters office.
  • Article 157: Qualifications — citizen of India, at least 35 years of age.
  • Article 158: Conditions of office — cannot hold any office of profit; cannot be a member of Parliament or State Legislature.
  • Article 159: Oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and law.
  • Article 160: Discharge of Governor's functions in certain contingencies (additional charge provisions).

Connection to this news: This reshuffle involves multiple constitutional provisions — Article 155 for fresh appointments, Article 160 for additional charge (Arlekar for Tamil Nadu), and Article 156's pleasure doctrine enabling transfers without stated reasons.

Sarkaria and Punchhi Commission Recommendations on Governor's Office

Both the Sarkaria Commission (1983-88) and the Punchhi Commission (2007-10) extensively examined the role of the Governor in India's federal structure and recommended reforms. The Sarkaria Commission advocated for consultation with the State Chief Minister before appointment and completion of the full five-year term. The Punchhi Commission recommended that Governors should be eminent persons from outside the state with no deep involvement in politics, and proposed an impartial impeachment-like process for removal.

  • Sarkaria Commission (1988): Governor should be an eminent person not belonging to the state; appointment must involve consultation with the state CM; inter-state council should be strengthened.
  • Punchhi Commission (2010): Governors should not hold positions as university chancellors or other statutory roles; discretionary powers must be limited, reasonable, and exercised in good faith.
  • In B.P. Singhal v. Union of India (2010), the Supreme Court held that the President's power to remove a Governor is not absolute and must not be exercised arbitrarily, capriciously, or unreasonably; however, the Court cannot inquire into the reasons for removal.
  • The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC, 2002) also recommended that the Governor's appointment should involve consultation with the state CM.
  • Despite these recommendations, in practice, governors continue to be appointed and transferred without formal consultation with state governments.

Connection to this news: The large-scale reshuffle without public consultation with the affected state governments exemplifies the gap between commission recommendations (which advocate CM consultation) and the existing constitutional practice where the Centre exercises sole discretion.

Lieutenant Governors: Powers and Constitutional Position in Union Territories

The governance structure of Union Territories varies significantly. Article 239 provides that every Union Territory shall be administered by the President through an administrator (designated as Lieutenant Governor). Article 239AA, inserted by the 69th Constitutional Amendment Act (1991), grants special provisions for Delhi as the National Capital Territory, including an elected Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers, but with significant limitations on their power vis-a-vis the LG.

  • Article 239: UTs administered by the President through an administrator appointed by him/her.
  • Article 239A: Power to create legislatures or Council of Ministers for certain UTs.
  • Article 239AA: Special provisions for Delhi — elected Assembly can legislate on State List and Concurrent List subjects except public order, police, and land.
  • In Government of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India (2023), the Supreme Court ruled that the Delhi government has legislative and executive control over services (except public order, police, and land), but Parliament subsequently passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023, creating the National Capital Civil Service Authority.
  • The LG of Delhi has more circumscribed powers compared to Governors of full states, creating a unique tripartite governance structure involving Centre, LG, and elected government.

Connection to this news: The appointment of Taranjit Singh Sandhu as Delhi's new LG is significant given the ongoing tensions between the Delhi government and the Centre over the LG's role, particularly in the wake of the 2023 Supreme Court verdict and subsequent central legislation on the control of services.

Key Facts & Data

  • The March 2026 reshuffle affected 9 states/UTs: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Ladakh.
  • New appointments: R.N. Ravi (West Bengal), Syed Ata Hasnain (Bihar), Taranjit Singh Sandhu (Delhi LG), Shiv Pratap Shukla (Telangana), Jishnu Dev Varma (Maharashtra), Kavinder Gupta (Himachal Pradesh), Nand Kishore Yadav (Nagaland), Vinai Kumar Saxena (Ladakh LG).
  • Article 155: Governor appointed by President; Article 156: Holds office during President's pleasure.
  • Article 239AA: Special provisions for Delhi NCT (69th Amendment, 1991).
  • Sarkaria Commission (1988): Recommended CM consultation before governor appointment.
  • Punchhi Commission (2010): 273 recommendations including fixed tenure and apolitical appointees.