List of Chief Ministers, Governors

List of Chief Ministers, Governors , Lt. Governors & Administrators of all Indian States and Union Territories in 2025

List of Chief Ministers and Governors of India: India currently has 28 states and 8 Union Territories. While the states are administered by the Chief Ministers, the Union Territories (UTs) are administered by the President through an Administrator or Lt. Governor appointed by the Indian President.

The Chief Minister of an Indian State is appointed by the Governor of that particular state according to Article 164 of the Indian Constitution and the Chief Minister serves as a liaison between the Governor and the Council of Ministers of the State.

In this article by Veranda RACE, we discuss the Chief Ministers and Governors of the Indian States and Union Territories. In the General Awareness/General Knowledge section of Bank exams (PO, Clerk, Grade A, Grade B, SO, Assistant), Insurance Exams (Assistant, Administrative Officer, etc.), SSC Exams (SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD Constable), Railway Exams (RRB NTPC, RRB Group D, RRB ALP) and TNPSC Exams (TNPSC Group 4, TNPSC Group 2, TNPSC Group 2A, TNPSC Group 1), candidates can expect around Chief Minister (CM) and Governors of Indian states and union territories.

Here, let's have a look at the current Chief Ministers and Governors of Indian states and union territories and also Lt. Governors and Administrators of Indian Union Territories in 2025.

Chief Minister of an Indian State

The Chief Minister (CM) of an Indian is the elected head of the state government. He is responsible for implementing policies of the state, managing its resources and overseeing various administrative functions of the state. The Chief Minister is the leader of the largest party in the state legislature.

Appointment of Chief Minister:

According to Article 164 of the Indian Constitution, the Chief Minister of state is appointed by the Governor. Usually, the leader of the party (or coalition) commanding a majority in the state Legislative Assembly is invited to form the government of the state.

Although the Governor is the nominal executive head of the state, real executive authority rests with the Chief Minister.

A person who is not a member of the state legislature can be appointed as Chief Minister of a state but must secure election to either House within six months; failing this, they must resign.

Term of a Chief Minister:

The Chief Minister of a state holds office during the pleasure of the Governor. However, as long as the Chief Minister of a state enjoys the confidence of the State Legislative Assembly, they cannot be dismissed by the Governor. The Legislative Assembly may remove the Chief Minister of a state by passing a vote of no-confidence.

Powers and Functions:

The Governor appoints the Council of Ministers of a state based on the Chief Minister's advice. The Chief Minister allocates and reshuffles portfolios among Council of Ministers. The resignation of the Chief Minister leads to the dissolution of the entire Council of Ministers.

Under Article 167, the Chief Minister of a state acts as the principal communication link between the Governor and the Council of Ministers. The Chief Minister advises the Governor on important appointments, such as the Advocate General, Chairman and members of the State Public Service Commission and State Election Commission.

The Chief Minister announces major government policies and decisions on the floor of the House. They advise the Governor to dissolve the Legislative Assembly when necessary.

Other Roles:

• Chairman of the State Planning Board
• Rotational Vice-Chairman of the concerned Zonal Council (serving for one year at a time)
• Member of the Inter-State Council
• Member of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog
• Acts as the chief spokesperson of the State Government
• Serves as the political head of the state's administrative machinery and manages political crises
• Engages with public delegations and addresses grievances brought to the government’s attention

List of Chief Ministers of Indian States in 2025

As of April 2025, President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on 13 February 2025, after the Manipur’s Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned.

Chief Ministers of Indian Union Territories in 2025

Only three Indian Union Territories of India have separate Chief Ministers — Puducherry, Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir. Rekha Gupta was appointed as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Delhi in February 2025.

Governor of an Indian State

The Governor is the chief executive head of the state. As per convention, he should not belong to the state where he is appointed to remain free from local politics. The Indian President appoints the Governor by warrant under his hand and seal, after consulting the Chief Minister of the concerned state.

The Governor is not elected directly or indirectly, unlike the President. He holds office at the pleasure of the President and can be removed at any time. Although appointed by the Central Government, the Governor’s office is an independent constitutional office and not employment under the Central Government.

The Governor is entitled to a rent-free official residence (Raj Bhavan) and receives emoluments and allowances determined by Parliament, which cannot be reduced during his term.

If the same person is appointed as Governor for multiple states, their emoluments are shared among the states as decided by the Indian President.

Under Article 361, the Governor enjoys immunity from legal liability for official acts and is protected from criminal proceedings during his term; however, civil cases can be filed with two months' prior notice for personal acts.

Before entering office, the Governor takes an oath administered by the Chief Justice or the senior-most judge of the concerned High Court, pledging to preserve the Constitution and serve the people of the state.

Key constitutional provisions include Article 153 (Governor for each state; one person can serve multiple states), Articles 157 and Article 158 (qualifications and conditions of office), and Article 163 (Council of Ministers with Chief Minister to aid and advise the Governor, except in matters requiring discretion).

Governors of Indian States in 2025

Recently, Arif Mohammad Khan was sworn in as the 42nd Governor of Bihar in January 2025.

Lt. Governors & Administrators of Indian Union Territories in 2025

The Union Territories of India are governed by Lieutenant Governors or Administrators. The Lt. Governors and Administrators oversee the governance of the Union Territories on behalf of the Central Government. They serve as representatives of the President of India, ensuring the implementation of central policies and governance in the absence of a state legislature.

To be clear, the following Indian Union Territories have Lieutenant Governors – Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi (NCT), Jammu & Kashmir, Puducherry, Ladakh.

The following Indian Union Territories have Administrators – Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep.

Important Facts & Figures on Chief Ministers & Governors

Female Chief Ministers: (as of 1 Apr 2025)

At present (as of 1 Apr 2025), Mamta Banerjee from West Bengal and Rekha Gupta from Delhi (NCT) remain the sole female Chief Ministers of a state or an union territory in India. Mamata Banerjee has been serving as the Chief Minister of West Bengal since 2011.

Rekha Gupta, a first time MLA in Delhi, became the Chief Minister of Delhi (NCT) in February 2025. She became the fourth female Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Delhi (NCT).

Longest Serving Chief Minister: (as of 1 Apr 2025)

Sikkim’s former Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling holds the record of helming a state for the longest time — 24 years and 166 days between the period December 1994 and May 2019.

Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik became the second longest-serving Chief Minister of a state in India with a tenure of 23 years and 139 days in 2023 surpassing the record of former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.

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We hope that this Veranda RACE article elevates your understanding of the crucial details for the upcoming government exams, whether it be Indian states, chief ministers of Indian states, governors, Lt. Governors or Administrators of Union Territories of India.