Union and State Government Structure: President, PM, Parliament, Governor, CM, State Legislature
India is a federal country with a parliamentary form of government. Power is shared between the Union (Central) Government in New Delhi and the governments of the states. At both levels, the system follows the same basic pattern: a nominal head who acts on the advice of ministers (the President at the Centre, the Governor in a state), a real executive led by an elected leader (the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister), and an elected legislature to which the ministers are answerable (Parliament and the State Legislature).
This topic is the heart of the Polity section in WBCS, UPSC, SSC CGL, Railways, Banking and every State PSC exam. Questions usually test constitutional Articles, qualifications and age limits, methods of election and removal, powers such as veto and pardon, the size of Houses, special bills, and current office holders. This guide covers the Union and State governments side by side – President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, Parliament, Governor, Chief Minister and State Legislature – with comparison tables, a West Bengal section, a quick revision box with memory tricks and 20 MCQs with answers.
➤ Union Executive: Articles 52–78 · Parliament: Articles 79–122
➤ State Executive: Articles 153–167 · State Legislature: Articles 168–212
➤ President: Droupadi Murmu · Vice-President: C.P. Radhakrishnan · Prime Minister: Narendra Modi
➤ West Bengal: Governor R.N. Ravi · Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari (sworn in 9 May 2026)
➤ Key rule: Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (Centre) and the Legislative Assembly (State)
Overview: Union and State Governments Side by Side
| Feature | Union Government | State Government |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional head | President (Art. 52) | Governor (Art. 153) |
| How chosen | Indirectly elected by an electoral college | Appointed by the President (Art. 155) |
| Real executive head | Prime Minister (Art. 75) | Chief Minister (Art. 164) |
| Council of Ministers | Art. 74 and 75 | Art. 163 and 164 |
| Collective responsibility to | Lok Sabha | Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) |
| Legislature | Parliament – President + Rajya Sabha + Lok Sabha (Art. 79) | Governor + Assembly (+ Council in some states) (Art. 168) |
| Oath administered by | Chief Justice of India (to President) | Chief Justice of the High Court (to Governor) |
| Ordinance power | Art. 123 | Art. 213 |
| Pardoning power | Art. 72 | Art. 161 |
| Chief law officer | Attorney General (Art. 76) | Advocate General (Art. 165) |
Part A: The Union Executive
1. The President (Articles 52–62, 72)
- Art. 52: There shall be a President of India. Art. 53: The executive power of the Union is vested in the President
- Election (Art. 54–55): Indirectly elected by an electoral college of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the states and of the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry (added by the 70th Amendment, 1992). Nominated members and members of Legislative Councils do not vote. Voting is by proportional representation through the single transferable vote, by secret ballot
- Qualifications (Art. 58): Citizen of India, at least 35 years old, qualified to be a member of the Lok Sabha, and not holding an office of profit
- Term (Art. 56): 5 years; eligible for re-election (Art. 57). Resignation is addressed to the Vice-President
- Oath (Art. 60): Administered by the Chief Justice of India
- Impeachment (Art. 61): Only ground is "violation of the Constitution". The charge can start in either House with a 14-day notice signed by one-fourth of its members, and must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House. No President has been impeached so far
- Vacancy (Art. 62): An election must be held within 6 months
Powers of the President
| Power | Details |
|---|---|
| Executive | Appoints the PM, ministers, Attorney General, CAG, Chief Election Commissioner, Governors, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts |
| Legislative | Summons and prorogues Parliament and dissolves the Lok Sabha (Art. 85); addresses Parliament; nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha; summons a joint sitting (Art. 108) |
| Ordinance (Art. 123) | Can issue ordinances when Parliament is not in session; they must be approved within 6 weeks of Parliament reassembling |
| Financial | Money bills need the President's prior recommendation; constitutes the Finance Commission every five years (Art. 280); causes the annual budget (Art. 112) to be laid before Parliament |
| Pardon (Art. 72) | Can grant pardon, reprieve, respite, remission and commutation – including for death sentences and court-martial sentences |
| Emergency | National emergency (Art. 352), President's Rule in a state (Art. 356), Financial emergency (Art. 360) |
| Veto | Absolute veto (withhold assent), suspensive veto (return a bill once for reconsideration – not for money bills), and pocket veto (no time limit to decide – used by Giani Zail Singh on the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill in 1986) |
The Finance Commission is explained in detail in our guide on World Bank, WTO and the Finance Commission.
2. The Vice-President (Articles 63–71)
- The second-highest constitutional office. Under Art. 64, the Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
- Election (Art. 66): By an electoral college of all members of both Houses of Parliament (elected and nominated); state legislatures play no role
- Qualifications: Citizen, at least 35 years, qualified to be a member of the Rajya Sabha
- Term: 5 years; resignation is addressed to the President
- Removal: By a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by an effective majority and agreed to by the Lok Sabha, with a 14-day notice
- Acts as President when the office falls vacant (for up to 6 months)
- Current: C.P. Radhakrishnan, the 15th Vice-President, elected in 2025 after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned
3. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (Articles 74–78)
- Art. 74: There shall be a Council of Ministers headed by the PM to aid and advise the President. Its advice is binding; the President can send it back once for reconsideration (44th Amendment, 1978)
- Art. 75(1): The PM is appointed by the President; other ministers are appointed by the President on the PM's advice. By convention, the President appoints the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha
- Size limit: The total number of ministers, including the PM, cannot exceed 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha (91st Amendment, 2003)
- Art. 75(3): The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. If a no-confidence motion is passed, the whole ministry must resign
- A person who is not an MP can be a minister for up to 6 months, within which he must become a member of either House
- Three categories of ministers: Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (some with independent charge) and Deputy Ministers
- Art. 78: The PM must communicate all Cabinet decisions to the President
- The PM also chairs bodies such as NITI Aayog – read more in our guide on economic planning and NITI Aayog
- Current PM: Narendra Modi, serving his third consecutive term since June 2024. India's first PM was Jawaharlal Nehru
Part B: The Parliament (Articles 79–122)
Art. 79: Parliament consists of the President and two Houses – the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The new Parliament building was inaugurated on 28 May 2023.
| Feature | Rajya Sabha (Upper House) | Lok Sabha (Lower House) |
|---|---|---|
| Article | Art. 80 | Art. 81 |
| Maximum strength | 250 (238 elected + 12 nominated) | 550 (530 from states + 20 from UTs) |
| Present strength | 245 | 543 |
| How chosen | Elected by elected MLAs (indirect, proportional representation); 12 nominated by the President for art, literature, science and social service | Directly elected by the people |
| Term | Permanent House; one-third of members retire every 2 years; a member's term is 6 years | 5 years (can be dissolved earlier; can be extended by one year at a time during a national emergency) |
| Minimum age | 30 years | 25 years |
| Presiding officer | Chairman (Vice-President) and Deputy Chairman | Speaker and Deputy Speaker (Art. 93) |
| Special powers | Art. 249 (law on State List in national interest) and Art. 312 (creating new All-India Services) | Money bills start only here; no-confidence motion only here |
Note: The two seats for Anglo-Indians nominated to the Lok Sabha were abolished by the 104th Amendment (2019). The 106th Amendment (2023), the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women; it will apply after the next census and delimitation.
The Speaker
- Elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members; resignation goes to the Deputy Speaker
- Decides whether a bill is a money bill – the decision is final
- Presides over a joint sitting of both Houses
- Decides disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule, added by the 52nd Amendment, 1985)
- Has a casting vote only in case of a tie
- First Speaker of the Lok Sabha: G.V. Mavalankar
Types of Bills
| Bill | Key points |
|---|---|
| Ordinary bill | Can start in either House; deadlock resolved by a joint sitting (Art. 108) |
| Money bill (Art. 110) | Only in the Lok Sabha with the President's recommendation; the Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes and must return it within 14 days; the President cannot return it for reconsideration |
| Financial bill (Art. 117) | Deals with financial matters but is not purely a money bill |
| Constitution Amendment bill (Art. 368) | Needs a special majority in each House separately; no joint sitting; the President must give assent (24th Amendment, 1971) |
Joint sittings have been held only three times: the Dowry Prohibition Bill (1961), the Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill (1978) and the Prevention of Terrorism Bill (2002). The Budget process is explained in our guide to fiscal policy and the Union Budget.
Parliamentary Terms
- Sessions: Budget, Monsoon and Winter. The gap between two sessions cannot exceed 6 months
- Quorum: One-tenth of the total members of the House
- Question Hour: The first hour of a sitting; Zero Hour (an Indian innovation, from 1962) follows it
- Prorogation ends a session; dissolution ends the life of the Lok Sabha (the Rajya Sabha is never dissolved)
Part C: The State Executive
4. The Governor (Articles 153–162)
- Art. 153: There shall be a Governor for each state. The 7th Amendment (1956) allows one person to be Governor of two or more states
- Appointment (Art. 155): By the President, by warrant under his hand and seal. The Governor is an agent of the Centre and the constitutional head of the state
- Term (Art. 156): 5 years, but holds office during the pleasure of the President; no grounds for removal are given in the Constitution. Resignation goes to the President
- Qualifications (Art. 157): Citizen of India and at least 35 years old
- Oath (Art. 159): Administered by the Chief Justice of the High Court
- Pardon (Art. 161): Can pardon, reprieve, remit or commute sentences for offences under state laws. Unlike the President, the Governor cannot pardon a death sentence or court-martial sentences
- Ordinance (Art. 213) when the State Legislature is not in session
- Discretionary powers (Art. 163): Reserving a bill for the President's consideration (Art. 200), recommending President's Rule (Art. 356), choosing a CM when no party has a clear majority
- The Governor is also the Chancellor of state universities
- Since late 2025, Raj Bhavans have been renamed Lok Bhavan – the Governor of West Bengal took oath at Lok Bhavan, Kolkata
5. The Chief Minister and State Council of Ministers (Articles 163–167)
- Art. 164: The CM is appointed by the Governor; other ministers on the CM's advice
- The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly
- Size: Not more than 15% of the total strength of the Assembly, and not fewer than 12 ministers (91st Amendment, 2003)
- A non-member can be CM or minister for up to 6 months
- Art. 167: The CM must communicate Council decisions to the Governor
- CMs are members of the NITI Aayog Governing Council and of Inter-State and Zonal Councils
- Advocate General (Art. 165): The highest law officer of the state, appointed by the Governor
Part D: The State Legislature (Articles 168–212)
A state legislature consists of the Governor and either one House (unicameral) or two Houses (bicameral). Under Art. 169, Parliament can create or abolish a Legislative Council if the State Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority.
States with a Legislative Council (6): Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
| Feature | Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) | Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) |
|---|---|---|
| Article | Art. 170 | Art. 171 |
| Strength | Maximum 500, minimum 60 (exceptions: Sikkim 32; Goa and Mizoram 40) | Maximum one-third of the Assembly; minimum 40 |
| How chosen | Directly elected by the people | 1/3 by local bodies, 1/3 by MLAs, 1/12 by graduates, 1/12 by teachers, 1/6 nominated by the Governor |
| Term | 5 years (can be dissolved earlier) | Permanent; one-third retire every 2 years; member's term 6 years |
| Minimum age | 25 years | 30 years |
| Presiding officer | Speaker | Chairman |
| Money bills | Introduced only here | Can delay by only 14 days |
The largest Assembly is Uttar Pradesh (403 seats). The Legislative Council is weaker than the Rajya Sabha – an Assembly can override it, and there is no joint sitting in states.
West Bengal Government – Key Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Legislature | Unicameral – West Bengal Legislative Assembly with 294 seats (the Legislative Council was abolished in 1969) |
| Governor | R.N. Ravi – sworn in on 12 March 2026 as the 22nd Governor after C.V. Ananda Bose resigned |
| Chief Minister | Suvendu Adhikari – sworn in on 9 May 2026 as the 9th CM and the state's first BJP CM, after the BJP won 207 seats in the 2026 Assembly election |
| First CM | Prafulla Chandra Ghosh (1947) |
| Longest-serving CM | Jyoti Basu (1977–2000) |
| Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy | CM 1948–1962; his birthday, 1 July, is National Doctors' Day |
| First woman CM | Mamata Banerjee (2011–2026) |
| Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha seats | 42 / 16 |
Important Firsts
| Office | First holder |
|---|---|
| President of India | Dr Rajendra Prasad |
| Vice-President of India | Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan |
| Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Woman President | Pratibha Patil |
| Tribal President | Droupadi Murmu (15th President, since July 2022) |
| Woman Prime Minister | Indira Gandhi |
| Speaker of Lok Sabha | G.V. Mavalankar |
| Woman Governor | Sarojini Naidu (Uttar Pradesh) |
| Woman Chief Minister | Sucheta Kripalani (Uttar Pradesh) |
Quick Revision Box – Easy Tricks to Memorise
Trick 1 – Article ranges: "52 Union boss, 79 Parliament, 153 State boss, 168 State House"
Union Executive 52–78 · Parliament 79–122 · State Executive 153–167 · State Legislature 168–212.
Trick 2 – Mirror articles (State = Union + about 89–91)
Pardon: 72 → 161 · Ordinance: 123 → 213 · Council of Ministers: 74 → 163 · Appointment of PM/CM: 75 → 164.
Trick 3 – Ages: "25 for the People's House, 30 for the Elders, 35 for the Heads"
Lok Sabha/Assembly 25 · Rajya Sabha/Council 30 · President/VP/Governor 35.
Trick 4 – Resignations: "President to VP, VP to President, Speaker to Deputy"
Governor also resigns to the President.
Trick 5 – Oaths: "Head of Nation – Chief of Nation; Head of State – Chief of State"
President's oath by the Chief Justice of India; Governor's oath by the Chief Justice of the High Court.
Trick 6 – Who votes for whom? "President = Elected only; VP = All of Parliament only"
President: elected MPs + elected MLAs (no nominated members). Vice-President: all MPs, elected and nominated (no MLAs).
Trick 7 – Numbers of Houses: "250-245 Upper, 550-543 Lower"
Rajya Sabha max 250 (present 245) · Lok Sabha max 550 (present 543) · 12 nominated in RS.
Trick 8 – 15% rule: "91st = 15% + minimum 12 in states"
Trick 9 – Six states with a Council: "BUMKAT" – Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
West Bengal is NOT in this list – its Council was abolished in 1969.
Trick 10 – Three vetoes: "A-S-P" – Absolute, Suspensive, Pocket
Pocket veto = Giani Zail Singh, Postal Bill, 1986 ("P-P-P": Pocket, Postal, President).
Trick 11 – Joint sitting trio: "Dowry, Bank, Terror" = 1961, 1978, 2002
Joint sitting is for ordinary bills only – never for money bills or constitutional amendments.
Trick 12 – Council composition: "3-3-12-12-6"
1/3 local bodies · 1/3 MLAs · 1/12 graduates · 1/12 teachers · 1/6 nominated by Governor.
20 MCQs on Union and State Governments
Q1. Under which Article is the executive power of the Union vested in the President?
(a) Article 52
(b) Article 53
(c) Article 74
(d) Article 79
Answer: (b) – Article 52 says there shall be a President of India.
Q2. Which of the following do NOT take part in the election of the President?
(a) Elected members of the Lok Sabha
(b) Elected members of State Legislative Assemblies
(c) Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha
(d) Elected members of the Delhi Assembly
Answer: (c) – Only elected members vote; Delhi and Puducherry MLAs were added by the 70th Amendment.
Q3. The only ground for the impeachment of the President is:
(a) Misbehaviour
(b) Incapacity
(c) Violation of the Constitution
(d) Corruption
Answer: (c) – It needs a two-thirds majority of the total membership of each House.
Q4. The President addresses his resignation to the:
(a) Prime Minister
(b) Chief Justice of India
(c) Vice-President
(d) Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Answer: (c) – The Vice-President addresses his resignation to the President.
Q5. The pocket veto was famously used by which President?
(a) Zakir Husain
(b) Giani Zail Singh
(c) R. Venkataraman
(d) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Answer: (b) – He used it on the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill in 1986.
Q6. The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha under:
(a) Article 63
(b) Article 64
(c) Article 66
(d) Article 89
Answer: (b) – The current Vice-President is C.P. Radhakrishnan.
Q7. The total number of ministers in the Union Council of Ministers cannot exceed what percentage of the Lok Sabha's strength?
(a) 10%
(b) 12%
(c) 15%
(d) 20%
Answer: (c) – This was fixed by the 91st Amendment, 2003.
Q8. The Union Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to:
(a) The President
(b) The Rajya Sabha
(c) The Lok Sabha
(d) Both Houses of Parliament
Answer: (c) – Under Article 75(3); a no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha.
Q9. What is the maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha?
(a) 238
(b) 245
(c) 250
(d) 552
Answer: (c) – 238 elected and 12 nominated by the President.
Q10. What is the minimum age to become a member of the Rajya Sabha?
(a) 21 years
(b) 25 years
(c) 30 years
(d) 35 years
Answer: (c) – For the Lok Sabha, it is 25 years.
Q11. Who decides whether a bill is a money bill?
(a) President
(b) Finance Minister
(c) Speaker of the Lok Sabha
(d) Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
Answer: (c) – The Speaker's decision is final.
Q12. Within how many days must the Rajya Sabha return a money bill?
(a) 7 days
(b) 14 days
(c) 30 days
(d) 6 months
Answer: (b) – If it does not, the bill is deemed passed by both Houses.
Q13. A joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament is presided over by the:
(a) President
(b) Vice-President
(c) Prime Minister
(d) Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Answer: (d) – Joint sittings are called under Article 108 for ordinary bills only.
Q14. The Anti-Defection Law is contained in which Schedule of the Constitution?
(a) Eighth
(b) Ninth
(c) Tenth
(d) Eleventh
Answer: (c) – It was added by the 52nd Amendment, 1985.
Q15. The Governor of a state is appointed by the:
(a) Chief Minister
(b) Prime Minister
(c) President
(d) Chief Justice of the High Court
Answer: (c) – Under Article 155; the Governor holds office during the President's pleasure.
Q16. Which power does the President have that the Governor does NOT have?
(a) Power to issue ordinances
(b) Power to pardon a death sentence
(c) Power to appoint the Chief Minister
(d) Power to summon the legislature
Answer: (b) – The Governor's pardoning power under Article 161 does not cover death sentences.
Q17. The oath of office to the Governor is administered by the:
(a) President
(b) Chief Justice of India
(c) Chief Justice of the concerned High Court
(d) Speaker of the Assembly
Answer: (c) – The President's oath is administered by the Chief Justice of India.
Q18. What is the minimum number of ministers in a state Council of Ministers?
(a) 7
(b) 10
(c) 12
(d) 15
Answer: (c) – The maximum is 15% of the Assembly's strength.
Q19. Which of the following states does NOT have a Legislative Council?
(a) Bihar
(b) Karnataka
(c) Telangana
(d) West Bengal
Answer: (d) – West Bengal abolished its Legislative Council in 1969.
Q20. Who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 9 May 2026?
(a) Mamata Banerjee
(b) Dilip Ghosh
(c) Suvendu Adhikari
(d) Samik Bhattacharya
Answer: (c) – He became the state's 9th CM and first BJP CM; Governor R.N. Ravi administered the oath.
Conclusion
India's Union and State governments are built on the same parliamentary model – a constitutional head who acts on ministerial advice, a real executive led by the PM or CM, and a legislature that holds the ministers accountable. For exams, focus on the Article numbers, qualifications and ages, methods of election and removal, resignation and oath rules, powers like veto, pardon and ordinance, the strength of the Houses, types of bills, the six states with Legislative Councils, and current office holders, including the recent changes in West Bengal. Revise the memory tricks above once more before your exam.
Reference: The Constitution of India (Parts V and VI), NCERT Political Science Class XI "Indian Constitution at Work", and M. Laxmikanth's "Indian Polity".
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