Anand Classes provides complete Chief Minister Polity Notes for NDA GK, covering appointment, powers, functions, and responsibilities of the Chief Minister as the real executive authority at the state level. These notes also include a comparison between the Chief Minister and the Governor, highlighting their constitutional roles and powers. FAQs and exam-focused MCQs are added to boost NDA polity preparation. Click the print button to download study material and notes.
Chief Minister – NDA Exam Study Material
Constitutional Position
- Article 164 (1): The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor. Usually, the leader of the majority party in the State Legislative Assembly is chosen.
- The Chief Minister (CM) is the elected head of the government of the state and wields most of the executive powers.
- He enjoys the support of the majority legislators in the assembly, either from a single political party or a coalition.
De Jure vs De Facto Authority
- The Governor is the de jure (nominal) executive authority.
- The Chief Minister is the de facto (real) executive authority, exercising actual powers of governance.
Qualifications
- The Constitution does not prescribe special educational or other qualifications.
- The person must:
- Be a citizen of India.
- Possess qualifications required to become a member of the State Legislative Assembly.
- The CM may be:
- A member of either House of the State Legislature.
- Even an outsider, but he must get elected within 6 months, otherwise he ceases to hold office.
Appointment & Majority
- The Governor appoints the CM and may ask him to prove his majority in the Assembly within a reasonable time.
- If the CM resigns, the entire Council of Ministers resigns collectively, as they are responsible to the Legislative Assembly.
Comparison: Governor vs Chief Minister
| Point of Difference | Governor (Nominal Executive) | Chief Minister (Real Executive) |
|---|---|---|
| Position in Constitution | De jure executive head of the state. | De facto executive head of the state. |
| Appointment | Appointed by the President of India for 5 years. | Appointed by the Governor (generally the leader of the majority party in the Assembly). |
| Nature of Authority | Ceremonial/nominal head; functions mostly on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. | Actual head of government; exercises real executive powers in the state. |
| Accountability | Responsible to the President of India. | Responsible to the State Legislative Assembly (collectively with the Council of Ministers). |
| Powers | Has powers like summoning the Assembly, dissolving it, giving assent to bills, and discretionary powers in special cases. | Directs the functioning of the Council of Ministers, makes policies, implements laws, and governs day-to-day administration. |
| Resignation | Resigns to the President of India. | Resigns to the Governor; and when he resigns, the whole Council of Ministers resigns. |
| Example in Practice | Symbolic figure, represents Union in the state. | Actual decision-maker, runs the government effectively. |
Exam Smart Note
- The Governor is only the constitutional head (titular authority), while the Chief Minister is the political and executive head of the state.
- This difference between de jure and de facto executive is a favorite question in UPSC NDA polity exams.
NDA FAQs on Chief Minister for SSB Preparation
1. Who appoints the Chief Minister in a State?
The Governor appoints the Chief Minister under Article 164(1). Normally, the leader of the party/coalition with a majority in the Assembly is chosen.
(Relevant for UPSC NDA polity questions and state government-related topics in Anand Classes download UPSC NDA notes and NDA study material pdf.)
2. Is the Chief Minister more powerful than the Governor?
Yes, in practice. The Governor is only the nominal (de jure) executive, while the Chief Minister is the real (de facto) executive authority. Thus, the CM runs the actual government of the State.
(Important for NDA polity preparation since questions often ask the difference between de jure and de facto executive in UPSC NDA polity notes.)
3. Can a non-member of the Legislature become Chief Minister?
Yes. A person can be appointed CM even if not a member of the Legislature, but he must get elected within 6 months; otherwise, he loses his position.
(Frequently tested in NDA polity questions and covered in NDA study material pdf.)
4. What happens if the Chief Minister resigns?
When the CM resigns, the entire Council of Ministers automatically resigns, because the ministry works as a collective body under the leadership of the CM.
(Key NDA polity fact useful for Anand Classes UPSC NDA notes download and preparation of NDA polity questions.)
5. Why is the Governor called a nominal executive and the Chief Minister called a real executive?
Because the Governor exercises powers formally in the name of the state, but in reality, he has to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the CM. Thus, the CM has the real decision-making power.
(Important for NDA polity preparation, covered in Anand Classes UPSC NDA notes and NDA study material pdf.)
NDA MCQs on Chief Minister (UPSC NDA Polity Practice)
Q1. Under which Article of the Indian Constitution is the Chief Minister appointed by the Governor?
a) Article 153
b) Article 163
c) Article 164 (1)
d) Article 168
Answer: c) Article 164 (1)
Explanation: Article 164 (1) provides that the Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor. Other ministers are appointed on the advice of the CM. This is a direct factual question, often asked in NDA polity exams.
(Relevant for NDA polity preparation – see Anand Classes UPSC NDA notes for practice.)
Q2. Who is considered the real executive authority in a State?
a) Governor
b) Chief Minister
c) President
d) Speaker of Legislative Assembly
Answer: b) Chief Minister
Explanation: The Governor is the de jure (nominal) executive, while the Chief Minister is the de facto (real) executive authority of the state. In NDA exams, this distinction is often tested.
(Important NDA polity note – Chief Minister’s powers are exam-focused in UPSC NDA polity notes pdf.)
Q3. What are the qualifications required to become a Chief Minister?
a) Must be a graduate and citizen of India
b) Must be at least 35 years of age and citizen of India
c) Must be a citizen of India and eligible to become a member of the State Legislative Assembly
d) Must be a citizen of India and member of Rajya Sabha
Answer: c) Must be a citizen of India and eligible to become a member of the State Legislative Assembly
Explanation: The Constitution does not prescribe educational qualifications. The only requirement is citizenship of India and eligibility to be a member of the Legislative Assembly. This type of tricky option is common in NDA polity exams.
(Covered in Anand Classes NDA polity study material for NDA exam practice.)
Q4. A person who is not a member of the State Legislature can be appointed Chief Minister, but he must get elected within:
a) 3 months
b) 6 months
c) 1 year
d) Next General Election
Answer: b) 6 months
Explanation: A non-member of the Legislature may be appointed Chief Minister, but must get elected within 6 months to either House of the State Legislature. If not, he must step down. NDA polity MCQs frequently test this timeline.
(Important NDA polity fact in NDA exam preparation notes and study pdfs.)
Q5. If the Chief Minister resigns, what happens to the Council of Ministers?
a) They continue till the Governor dissolves them.
b) Only the CM’s post becomes vacant.
c) The entire Council of Ministers resigns collectively.
d) They continue under the Speaker of the Assembly.
Answer: c) The entire Council of Ministers resigns collectively.
Explanation: The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly, and it exists only as long as the CM is in office. If the CM resigns, the entire Council resigns too. This is a favorite NDA polity exam question.
(Prepared in NDA polity notes and practice MCQs in Anand Classes NDA study pdf.)
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