Topic 121: Raj. State Admin – Governor, CM,

Q: What are the discretionary powers of the Governor of Rajasthan?

The **Governor** exercises discretion (without CM's advice) in: (1) **Appointing CM** when no party has a clear Assembly majority — invites the leader most likely to form a stable government; (2) **Dismissing the ministry** that has lost Assembly confidence and refuses to resign; (3) **Reserving bills** for the President's consideration — especially those affecting High Court jurisdiction; (4) **Reporting** to the President on the state's constitutional breakdown (Article 356); (5) Acting as **Chancellor** of state universities with independent administrative authority. **राज्यपाल की विवेकाधीन शक्तियाँ (बिना CM की सलाह के): (1) अस्पष्ट बहुमत पर CM नियुक्ति — बहुमत योग्य नेता को आमंत्रण; (2) विश्वास खो चुकी सरकार को बर्खास्त करना; (3) विधेयकों को राष्ट्रपति के विचार हेतु सुरक्षित रखना — विशेषतः उच्च न्यायालय से संबंधित; (4) अनुच्छेद 356 के तहत संवैधानिक संकट की रिपोर्ट; (5) राज्य विश्वविद्यालयों के कुलाधिपति।**

Study Material

Paper Paper III

Unit 2

1. The Governor of Rajasthan is appointed by the President of India under Article 155 of the Constitution for a 5-year term (serves at the President's pleasure). The Governor is the constitutional head of the state and acts as the liaison between the Centre and state government.
2. The Chief Minister is the real executive head of Rajasthan. Appointed by the Governor (must command majority in Assembly), the CM heads the Council of Ministers, which is collectively responsible to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) under Article 164.
3. The Rajasthan Secretariat (headquartered at Jaipur) is the apex policy-making body of the state government. It comprises secretaries (IAS officers) who assist ministers in formulating policies. The Secretariat functions under the Rajasthan Secretariat Manual and the Business Rules.
4. The Chief Secretary is the senior-most IAS officer in Rajasthan, heading the state's bureaucracy. The Chief Secretary is the principal administrative advisor to the CM, coordinates between departments, heads the State Civil Services Board, and chairs key inter-departmental committees.
5. Directorates are the executing arms of the state government — they implement policies formulated by the Secretariat. Many Rajasthan directorates are headquartered in Ajmer (a PYQ-asked fact — asked in 2023 directly). Key examples: Directorate of Secondary Education, Directorate of Agriculture — both at Bikaner; Directorate of Medical & Health — at Jaipur.
6. The Rajasthan Board of Revenue (headquartered at Ajmer) is the highest revenue court in Rajasthan. It handles appeals on land revenue matters, revenue records, and revenue-related disputes. Established under the Rajasthan Board of Revenue Act, 1949.
7. The Rajasthan Lokayukta is established under the Rajasthan Lokayukta Act, 1973. The Lokayukta investigates complaints of maladministration, corruption, and abuse of power against public servants, including ministers (but not the Governor, CM, Legislators, and High Court judges).
8. The Rajasthan Police is headed by the Director General of Police (DGP), an IPS officer. Rajasthan is divided into police ranges headed by Inspector Generals (IGs) and districts with Superintendents of Police (SPs). The State Police Headquarters is in Jaipur.
9. The Right to Hearing Act, 2012 (Rajasthan) — a landmark Rajasthan-specific legislation requiring government officers to hear citizens' grievances within specified timeframes. The Act was a precursor to the national-level model. It mandates designated officers to hear applications and provide reasoned decisions.
10. Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) is a constitutional body under Article 315. Based in Ajmer, it conducts recruitment examinations for Group A and B services of the Rajasthan government. The RPSC Chairman is appointed by the Governor.
11. Raj Right to Public Services Act, 2011 — predated the Right to Hearing Act; guarantees citizens timely delivery of specified public services (e.g., income certificate, caste certificate) within defined timeframes. Non-delivery results in automatic appeal to designated appellate authority.
12. The Governor's discretionary powers in Rajasthan include: (a) appointing CM when no party has clear majority; (b) dismissing ministry that has lost majority; (c) reserving bills for President's consideration; (d) acting as Chancellor of State Universities. / राजस्थान में राज्यपाल की विवेकाधीन शक्तियाँ: (a) स्पष्ट बहुमत न होने पर CM नियुक्ति; (b) विश्वास खो चुकी सरकार को बर्खास्त करना; (c) विधेयकों को राष्ट्रपति के विचार हेतु सुरक्षित रखना; (d) राज्य विश्वविद्यालयों के कुलाधिपति के रूप में कार्य करना। ---

Key facts

The Governor of Rajasthan is appointed by the President of India under Article 155 of the Constitution for a 5-year term (serves at the President's pl…
The Chief Minister is the real executive head of Rajasthan. Appointed by the Governor (must command majority in Assembly), the CM heads the Council of…
Directorates are the executing arms of the state government
The Rajasthan Board of Revenue (headquartered at Ajmer) is the highest revenue court in Rajasthan.
The Rajasthan Lokayukta is established under the Rajasthan Lokayukta Act, 1973.

Key Points at a Glance

1
The Governor of Rajasthan is appointed by the President of India under Article 155 of the Constitution for a 5-year term (serves at the President's pleasure). The Governor is the constitutional head of the state and acts as the liaison between the Centre and state government.
2
The Chief Minister is the real executive head of Rajasthan. Appointed by the Governor (must command majority in Assembly), the CM heads the Council of Ministers, which is collectively responsible to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) under Article 164.
3
The Rajasthan Secretariat (headquartered at Jaipur) is the apex policy-making body of the state government. It comprises secretaries (IAS officers) who assist ministers in formulating policies. The Secretariat functions under the Rajasthan Secretariat Manual and the Business Rules.
4
The Chief Secretary is the senior-most IAS officer in Rajasthan, heading the state's bureaucracy. The Chief Secretary is the principal administrative advisor to the CM, coordinates between departments, heads the State Civil Services Board, and chairs key inter-departmental committees.
5
Directorates are the executing arms of the state government — they implement policies formulated by the Secretariat. Many Rajasthan directorates are headquartered in Ajmer (a PYQ-asked fact — asked in 2023 directly). Key examples: Directorate of Secondary Education, Directorate of Agriculture — both at Bikaner; Directorate of Medical & Health — at Jaipur.
6
The Rajasthan Board of Revenue (headquartered at Ajmer) is the highest revenue court in Rajasthan. It handles appeals on land revenue matters, revenue records, and revenue-related disputes. Established under the Rajasthan Board of Revenue Act, 1949.
7
The Rajasthan Lokayukta is established under the Rajasthan Lokayukta Act, 1973. The Lokayukta investigates complaints of maladministration, corruption, and abuse of power against public servants, including ministers (but not the Governor, CM, Legislators, and High Court judges).
8
The Rajasthan Police is headed by the Director General of Police (DGP), an IPS officer. Rajasthan is divided into police ranges headed by Inspector Generals (IGs) and districts with Superintendents of Police (SPs). The State Police Headquarters is in Jaipur.
9
The Right to Hearing Act, 2012 (Rajasthan) — a landmark Rajasthan-specific legislation requiring government officers to hear citizens' grievances within specified timeframes. The Act was a precursor to the national-level model. It mandates designated officers to hear applications and provide reasoned decisions.
10
Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) is a constitutional body under Article 315. Based in Ajmer, it conducts recruitment examinations for Group A and B services of the Rajasthan government. The RPSC Chairman is appointed by the Governor.
11
Raj Right to Public Services Act, 2011 — predated the Right to Hearing Act; guarantees citizens timely delivery of specified public services (e.g., income certificate, caste certificate) within defined timeframes. Non-delivery results in automatic appeal to designated appellate authority.
12
The Governor's discretionary powers in Rajasthan include: (a) appointing CM when no party has clear majority; (b) dismissing ministry that has lost majority; (c) reserving bills for President's consideration; (d) acting as Chancellor of State Universities. / राजस्थान में राज्यपाल की विवेकाधीन शक्तियाँ: (a) स्पष्ट बहुमत न होने पर CM नियुक्ति; (b) विश्वास खो चुकी सरकार को बर्खास्त करना; (c) विधेयकों को राष्ट्रपति के विचार हेतु सुरक्षित रखना; (d) राज्य विश्वविद्यालयों के कुलाधिपति के रूप में कार्य करना।

How does Rajasthan's state administration work within India's federal framework?

Rajasthan's state administration works within India's federal framework by exercising State List and Concurrent List responsibilities through the Governor, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers, Secretariat, Chief Secretary and field administration.

According to the Rajasthan Forest Department's Rajasthan at a Glance page, Rajasthan's area in 2011 was 342,239 sq. km.

India's federal structure (described as "quasi-federal" by K.C. Wheare and "cooperative federalism" in practice) allocates administrative functions between the Union and states via the Seventh Schedule (Union List, State List, Concurrent List). Rajasthan, as one of India's largest states by area (342,239 sq. km), has a complex administrative machinery.

The state administration of Rajasthan is structured at three tiers:

State level: Governor → CM → Council of Ministers → Secretariat → Chief Secretary
Divisional level: Divisional Commissioner (7 divisions - Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Kota, Udaipur, Bharatpur)
District level: Collector → Sub-Divisional Officers → Tehsildar (covered in T122)

Exam answer frame: For answer shape, show the chain from constitutional authority to field delivery: Governor, elected executive, Secretariat, divisional administration and district administration.

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PREDICTED Predicted RAS Questions

Based on PYQ trends and 2026 syllabus analysis

1 5M What are the discretionary powers of the Governor of Rajasthan? 5 marks · 50 words

Model Answer

The Governor exercises discretion (without CM's advice) in: (1) Appointing CM when no party has a clear Assembly majority — invites the leader most likely to form a stable government; (2) Dismissing the ministry that has lost Assembly confidence and refuses to resign; (3) Reserving bills for the President's consideration — especially those affecting High Court jurisdiction; (4) Reporting to the President on the state's constitutional breakdown (Article 356); (5) Acting as Chancellor of state universities with independent administrative authority.

राज्यपाल की विवेकाधीन शक्तियाँ (बिना CM की सलाह के): (1) अस्पष्ट बहुमत पर CM नियुक्ति — बहुमत योग्य नेता को आमंत्रण; (2) विश्वास खो चुकी सरकार को बर्खास्त करना; (3) विधेयकों को राष्ट्रपति के विचार हेतु सुरक्षित रखना — विशेषतः उच्च न्यायालय से संबंधित; (4) अनुच्छेद 356 के तहत संवैधानिक संकट की रिपोर्ट; (5) राज्य विश्वविद्यालयों के कुलाधिपति।

~50 words • 5 marks