RAS question
Under Article 164, the Chief Minister is appointed by:
Correct answer: (C) The Governor.
Under Article 164(1) of the Constitution of India, the Chief Minister of a State is appointed by the Governor.
Explanation
Article 164(1) gives the appointment rule for the State Council of Ministers. The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor, while the other Ministers are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. This constitutional arrangement separates the formal act of appointment from the political process that produces the ministry. Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the Governor, and Article 164(2) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the State Legislative Assembly. Under Article 164, the appointing authority for the Chief Minister is not the legislature, MLAs voting directly, or the President; it is the Governor.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The State Legislature is the body to which the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible, but Article 164(1) does not make it the appointing authority for the Chief Minister.
- (B) Elected MLAs may shape the political choice of the ministry, but the formal appointment of the Chief Minister is by the Governor under Article 164(1), not by a direct MLA vote.
- (D) The President appoints the Governor under Article 155, but Article 164(1) assigns the appointment of the Chief Minister to the Governor.
Concept
The constitutional machinery of State executive government includes the formal appointment powers under Part VI. RAS repeatedly asks such provisions because they connect bare Articles with real State administration.