President Appoints New Governors & Ladakh LG

President Appoints New Governors and Ladakh LG

Why in the News ?

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed new Governors for Haryana and Goa and named Kavinder Gupta as the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Ladakh. These changes come after the resignation of LG B.D. Mishra from the Union Territory of Ladakh, amid efforts to address the escalating drug menace and other challenges in the region.

President Appoints New Governors & Ladakh LG

Recent Appointments by the President

  • Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, former Civil Aviation Minister, has been appointed Governor of Goa.
  • Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh has been appointed as the Governor of Haryana.
  • Kavinder Gupta, former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has been appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
  • These appointments were officially made by President Droupadi Murmu on July 15, 2025.
  • The move reflects a reshuffle in key constitutional posts in both states and Union Territories.

Significance and Political Context

  • Brigadier (Retd.) Dr. B.D. Mishra tendered his resignation as Ladakh LG, which has been accepted.
  • The appointments come amid efforts to strengthen governance and ensure better centre-state/UT coordination, particularly in addressing challenges like the escalating drug menace.
  • Kavinder Gupta‘s experience in J&K administration is seen as crucial for handling strategic and developmental challenges in Ladakh, including potential reforms in line with the proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
  • The selection of Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Prof. Ghosh indicates a blend of political experience and academic expertise.
  • These changes may have implications for centre-state relations and the administrative focus in sensitive regions like Ladakh, especially in combating organised crime syndicates operating across state borders.

Constitutional provisions related to Governor :

● Governor is the nominal head of a State, appointed by the President of India under Article 155 of the Constitution.

● The Lieutenant Governor (LG) is the administrative head of Union Territories, especially in UTs without legislature like Ladakh.

● Governors hold office at the pleasure of the President, usually for a five-year term.

● The LG of Ladakh does not have to act on the advice of a council of ministers, unlike LGs in Delhi or Puducherry.

● Appointments and transfers of Governors are made based on political and administrative needs, including the ability to address challenges like the escalating drug menace and organised crime syndicates.