RAS question
The Chief Minister of Rajasthan is appointed by whom?
Correct answer: (D) Governor of Rajasthan.
The Chief Minister of Rajasthan is appointed by the Governor of Rajasthan under Article 164(1) of the Constitution of India.
Explanation
Article 164(1) of the Constitution places the appointment of a State Chief Minister in the Governor's hands. For Rajasthan, that means the Governor of Rajasthan appoints the Chief Minister. In normal government formation, the leader who commands a majority in the State Legislative Assembly is invited to form the government, which explains why the office is politically linked to the Assembly majority but constitutionally appointed by the Governor. The same clause also separates the Chief Minister's appointment from the appointment of other ministers: other ministers are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. So the appointing authority is not the Assembly Speaker, the Prime Minister, or the President, but the State Governor.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The Speaker of the Assembly presides over the House; Article 164(1) gives the appointment of the Chief Minister to the Governor, not to the Speaker.
- (B) The Prime Minister heads the Union Council of Ministers and has no constitutional role in appointing a State Chief Minister under Article 164(1).
- (C) The President appoints the Prime Minister at the Union level, while Article 164(1) assigns the appointment of a State Chief Minister to the Governor.
Concept
This tests the State executive under Indian Polity, especially the Governor-Chief Minister relationship in Article 164. It recurs in RAS because Rajasthan Polity questions often check whether aspirants can distinguish political convention from the formal constitutional authority.