Breakoutbanglore at 12:25, 15 April 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}

In [[India]], a [[Governors of states of India|governor]] is the constitutional head of each of the [[States and union territories of India|twenty-eight states]]. The governor is appointed by the [[President of India]] for a term of five years, and holds office at the President's pleasure. The governor is ''[[de jure]]'' head of the [[State governments of India|state government]]; all its executive actions are taken in the governor's name. However, the governor must act on the advice of the popularly elected [[Cabinet (government)|council of ministers]], headed by the [[Chief Minister (India)|chief minister]], who thus hold ''[[de facto]]'' executive authority at the state-level. The [[Constitution of India]] also empowers the governor to act upon their own discretion, such as the ability to appoint or dismiss a [[ministry (collective executive)|ministry]], recommend [[President's rule]], or reserve bills for the President's assent. Over the years, the exercise of these discretionary powers have given rise to conflict between the elected chief minister and the [[Government of India|union government]]–appointed governor.<ref>[[Durga Das Basu]]. ''Introduction to the Constitution of India''. 1960. 20th edition, 2011 reprint. LexisNexis Butterworths Wadhwa Nagpur. {{ISBN|978-81-8038-559-9}}. p. 237, 241–44.</ref>

[[File:Female Governors of Indian States.png|thumb|Map showing the number of the female Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators served in Indian States and Union Territories]]

[[Sarojini Naidu]] was the first woman to become the governor of an Indian state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/sarojini-naidu-the-first-woman-to-become-the-governor-of-an-indian-state-668177.html|title=Sarojini Naidu: The first woman to become the governor of an Indian state|publisher=CNN-IBN|date=13 February 2014|accessdate=25 March 2016}}</ref> She governed [[Uttar Pradesh]] from 15 August 1947 to 2 March 1949. Her daughter, [[Padmaja Naidu]], is the longest-serving female governor with almost 11 years tenure in [[West Bengal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.in/political-corner/women-governors-in-india/|title=Women Governors in India|author=Shubhojit|publisher=Elections.in|date=10 July 2014|accessdate=25 March 2016}}</ref> [[Tamilisai Soundararajan]] is the recentmost appointment as the first female governor of [[Telangana]].<ref>{{cite news|title=President appoints five new governors including Tamilisai Soundararajan in Telangana|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/president-appoints-five-new-governors-including-tamilisai-soundararajan-in-telangana/article29314315.ece|work=The Hindu|date=September 2019|accessdate=1 September 2019}}</ref> [[Pratibha Patil]] and [[Draupadi Murmu]] later served as head of the state of India ([[President of India]]). States Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, West Bengal doesn't have any woman governor.

==Chronological list==
;Key

{{legend inline|1 = #DBD7D2|text = {{asterisk}}}} Incumbent governor

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! No.
! Image
! Name
! class="unsortable" | From
! class="unsortable" | To
! Term length
! State
! class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 1
| [[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-12899, Sarojini Naidu (cropped).jpg|100px]]
! [[Sarojini Naidu]]
| 15 August 1947
| 2 March 1949
| {{ayd|1947|8|15|1949|3|2}}
| [[United Provinces (1937–1950)|United Provinces]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Shrimati Sarojini Naidu, Governor of UP|url=http://upgovernor.gov.in/sarojinibio.htm|publisher=National Informatics Centre, UP State Union|accessdate=25 March 2012|archive-date=21 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121070137/http://upgovernor.gov.in/sarojinibio.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2
|
! [[Padmaja Naidu]]
| 3 November 1956
| 31 May 1967
| {{ayd|1956|11|3|1967|5|31}}
| [[West Bengal]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Former Governors of West Bengal|url=http://rajbhavankolkata.gov.in/html/pastgov1912_new.htm|publisher=West Bengal Government|accessdate=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109072725/http://rajbhavankolkata.gov.in/html/pastgov1912_new.htm|archive-date=9 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 3
| [[File:Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.jpg|100px]]
! [[Vijayalakshmi Pandit]]
| 28 November 1962
| 18 October 1964
| {{ayd|1962|11|28|1964|10|18}}
| [[Maharashtra]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Previous Governors List of Maharashtra |url=http://rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in/previous/default.htm |publisher=Maharashtra Government |accessdate=25 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206050259/http://rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in/previous/default.htm |archivedate=6 February 2009 }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 4
| rowspan="2"| [[File:Sharda Mukherjee official portrait.gif|100px]]
! rowspan="2"| [[Sharda Mukherjee]]
| 5 May 1977
| 14 August 1978
| {{ayd|1977|5|5|1978|8|14}}
| [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Former Governors of Andhra Pradesh |url=http://governor.ap.nic.in/governor/exgovernors.html |publisher=Andhra Pradesh Government |accessdate=25 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405071756/http://governor.ap.nic.in/governor/exgovernors.html |archivedate=5 April 2013 }}</ref>
|-
| 14 August 1978
| 5 August 1983
| {{ayd|1978|8|14|1983|8|5}}
| [[Gujarat]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Sharda Mukherjee, Former Governor of Gujarat|url=http://www.rajbhavan.gujarat.gov.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=64|publisher=Gujarat Government|accessdate=25 March 2012}}</ref>
|-
| 5
| [[File:Jothi_Venkatachalam.jpg|100px]]
! [[Jothi Venkatachalam]]
| 14 October 1977
| 27 October 1982
| {{ayd|1977|10|14|1982|10|27}}
| [[Kerala]]
| <ref name="Kerala Legislature - Governors">{{cite web|title=Kerala Legislature - Governors|url=http://niyamasabha.org/codes/ginfo_4.htm|publisher=Kerala Government|accessdate=25 March 2012}}</ref>
|-
| 6
| [[File:Kumudben Joshi.jpg|100px]]
! [[Kumudben Joshi]]
| 26 November 1985
| 2 February 1990
| {{ayd|1985|11|26|1990|2|2}}
| [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Former Governors of AP |url=http://governor.ap.nic.in/governor/exgovernors.html |publisher=National Informatics Centre, AP State Union |accessdate=25 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405071756/http://governor.ap.nic.in/governor/exgovernors.html |archivedate=5 April 2013 }}</ref>
|-
| 7
| [[File:Ram Dulari Sinha official portrait.gif|100px]]
! [[Ram Dulari Sinha]]
| 23 February 1988
| 12 February 1990
| {{ayd|1988|2|23|1990|2|12}}
| [[Kerala]]
| <ref name="Kerala Legislature - Governors"/>
|-
| 8
|
! [[Sarla Grewal]]
| 31 March 1989
| 5 February 1990
| {{ayd|1989|3|31|1990|2|5}}
| [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Sarla Grewal, Governor of Madhya Pradesh|url=http://www.rajbhavanmp.in/grewal.asp|publisher=NIC|accessdate=25 March 2012|archive-date=11 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111151607/http://www.rajbhavanmp.in/grewal.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 9
| [[File:Sheila Kaul Lok Sabha photo.jpg|100px]]
! [[Sheila Kaul]]
| 17 November 1995
| 23 April 1996
| {{ayd|1995|11|17|1996|4|23}}
| [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| <ref name="Himachal Pradesh Government">{{cite web|title=Former Governors of Himachal Pradesh|url=http://himachalrajbhavan.nic.in/information.html|publisher=Himachal Pradesh Government|accessdate=25 March 2012}}</ref>
|-
| 10
| [[File:Justice Fathima Beevi.JPG|100px]]
! [[Fathima Beevi]]
| 25 January 1997
| 1 July 2001
| {{ayd|1997|1|25|2001|7|1}}
| [[Tamil Nadu]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Former Governors of Tamilnadu|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/list/governors1946.htm|publisher=Tamil Nadu Government|accessdate=25 March 2012}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 11
| rowspan="2"| [[File:VS RamaDevi.jpg|100px]]
! rowspan="2"| [[V. S. Ramadevi]]
| 26 July 1997
| 1 December 1999
| {{ayd|1997|7|26|1999|12|1}}
| [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| <ref name="Himachal Pradesh Government"/>
|-
| 2 December 1999
| 20 August 2002
| {{ayd|1999|12|2|2002|8|20}}
| [[Karnataka]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Ramadevi, Governor of Karnataka|url=http://rajbhavan.kar.nic.in/governors/RAMADEVI.htm|publisher=Karnataka Government|accessdate=25 March 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312060220/http://rajbhavan.kar.nic.in/governors/RAMADEVI.htm|archivedate=12 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| 12
| [[File:The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil.jpg|100px]]
! [[Pratibha Patil]]
| 8 November 2004
| 23 June 2007
| {{ayd|2004|11|8|2007|6|23}}
| [[Rajasthan]]
| <ref name=RajAssembly>{{cite web|title=Ex Governor of Rajasthan |url=http://rajassembly.nic.in/PratibhaPatil.htm |publisher=Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat |accessdate=26 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804130808/http://rajassembly.nic.in/PratibhaPatil.htm |archivedate=4 August 2013 }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 13
| rowspan="2"| [[File:Prabha Rau.jpg|100px]]
! rowspan="2"| [[Prabha Rau]]
| 19 July 2008
| 24 January 2010
| {{ayd|2008|7|19|2010|1|24}}
| [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| <ref name="Himachal Pradesh Government"/>
|-
| 25 January 2010
| 26 April 2010
| {{ayd|2010|1|25|2010|4|26}}
| [[Rajasthan]]
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=57002 |title=President appoints Governors |publisher= Press Information Bureau, New Delhi Press release dated 16 January 2010 |accessdate= 22 October 2013}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3"| 14
| rowspan="3"| [[File:The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Somnath Chatterjee addressing at the inauguration of the Orientation Programme for the media persons accredited to the press gallery of Lok Sabha, in New Delhi on July 28, 2006 (cropped).jpg|100px]]
! rowspan="3"| [[Margaret Alva]]
| 6 August 2009
| 14 May 2012
| {{ayd|2009|8|26|2012|5|14}}
| [[Uttarakhand]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Margaret Alva, Governor of Uttarakhand|url=http://www.governoruk.gov.in/pages/display/87-former-governors|publisher=Uttarakhand Government|accessdate=8 July 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 12 May 2012
| 7 August 2014
| {{ayd|2012|5|12|2014|8|5}}
| [[Rajasthan]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Margaret Alva, Governor of Rajasthan|url=http://rajasthan.gov.in/rajgovt/keypeopleprofile/governer.html|publisher=Rajasthan Government|accessdate=17 July 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 12 July 2014
| 7 August 2014
| {{ayd|2014|6|12|2014|8|5}}
| [[Goa]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 15
| rowspan="2"| [[File:Kamla Beniwal.jpg|100px]]
! rowspan="2"| [[Kamla Beniwal]]
| 27 November 2009
| 6 July 2014
| {{ayd|2009|11|27|2014|7|6}}
| [[Gujarat]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Kamla Beniwal, Governor of Gujarat|url=http://www.rajbhavan.gujarat.gov.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=26|publisher=Gujarat Government|accessdate=25 March 2012}}</ref>
|-
| 6 July 2014
| 6 August 2014
| {{ayd|2014|7|6|2014|8|6}}
| [[Mizoram]]
| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-story-behind-kamla-beniwals-dismissal/article6295764.ece|title=The story behind Kamla Beniwal's dismissal|work=The Hindu|date=8 August 2014|accessdate=2 March 2018}}</ref>
|-
| 16
| [[File:Urmila Singh in 2010.jpg|100px]]
! [[Urmila Singh]]
| 25 January 2010
| 27 January 2015
| {{ayd|2010|1|25|2015|1|27}}
| [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Urmila Singh, Governor of Himachal Pradesh|url=http://himachalrajbhavan.nic.in/Governor.html|publisher=Himachal Pradesh Government|accessdate=17 July 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 17
| [[File:Sheila Dikshit Ji.jpg|100px]]
! [[Sheila Dikshit]]
| 11 March 2014
| 25 August 2014
| {{ayd|2014|3|11|2014|8|25}}
| [[Kerala]]
| <ref>{{cite news|title=Sheila Dikshit, Governor of Kerala|
url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sheila-Dikshit-appointed-new-Kerala-governor/articleshow/31422697.cms|last=Jain|first=Bharti|work=The Times of India|date=4 March 2014|accessdate=4 March 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 18
| [[File:Governor Mridula Sinha.jpg|100px]]
! [[Mridula Sinha]]
| 31 August 2014
| 2 November 2019
| {{ayd|2014|8|31|2019|11|2}}
| [[Goa]]
| <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mridula-sinha-swornin-as-goa-governor/article6366894.ece|title=Mridula Sinha sworn-in as Goa Governor|last=Kamat|first=Prakash|work=The Hindu|date=31 August 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 19
| [[File:President of India Droupadi Murmu official portrait (cropped).jpg|100px]]
! [[Droupadi Murmu]]
| 18 May 2015
| 13 July 2021
| {{ayd|2015|5|18|2021|7|13}}
| [[Jharkhand]]
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/draupadi-murmu-sworn-in-as-first-woman-governor-of-jharkhand-764062|title=Draupadi Murmu Sworn In as First Woman Governor of Jharkhand|publisher=NDTV|date=18 May 2015|accessdate=15 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
| 20
| [[File:Najma A. Heptulla presenting the Badalte Qadam Award to the Cinematographer, Doordarshan, Ms. Jayshree Puri, at the Best Achievers Award Ceremony, organised by the Child Care & Welfare Foundation, in New Delhi (cropped).jpg|100px]]
! [[Najma Heptulla]]
| 21 August 2016
| 10 August 2021
| {{ayd|2016|08|21|2021|08|10}}
| [[Manipur]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/manipur-najma-heptulla-to-be-sworn-in-as-governor-on-sunday-2988410/|title=Manipur: Najma Heptulla to be sworn-in as Governor on Sunday|publisher=Indian Express|date=21 August 2016|accessdate=21 August 2016}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" scope=row style="background:#DBD7D2" | 21
| rowspan="3" | [[File:Anandiben Patel Ji.jpg|100px]]
! style="background:#DBD7D2" rowspan="3"| [[Anandiben Patel]]*
| 23 January 2018
| 28 July 2019
| {{ayd|2018|01|23|2019|07|28}}
| [[Madhya Pradesh]]
|<ref>"[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/anandiben-patel-sworn-in-as-madhya-pradesh-governor/article22495560.ece Anandiben Patel sworn in as Madhya Pradesh Governor]". ''The Hindu''. 23 January 2018.</ref>
|-
| 15 August 2018
| 28 July 2019
| {{ayd|2018|08|15|2019|07|28}}
| [[Chhattisgarh]]
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Anandiben Patel, Governor of Chhattisgarh|url=https://cgstate.gov.in/en/web/rajbhavan/former-governors|publisher=Chhattisgarh Government|accessdate=23 July 2019}}</ref>
|- scope=row style="background:#DBD7D2"
| 29 July 2019
| ''Incumbent''
| {{ayd|2019|7|29}}
| [[Uttar Pradesh]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Anandiben Patel Takes Oath As Uttar Pradesh Governor|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/anandiben-patel-takes-oath-as-uttar-pradesh-governor-2076920?&tb_cb=1|publisher=NDTV|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 22
| [[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the 1st Uttarakhand Investors Summit, at Dehradun, Uttarakhand (cropped).JPG|100px]]
! [[Baby Rani Maurya]]
| 26 August 2018
| 15 September 2021
| {{ayd|2018|8|26|2021|9|15}}
| [[Uttarakhand]]
|<ref>" [https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/baby-rani-maurya-sworn-in-as-new-uttarakhand-governor/articleshow/65552443.cms Baby Rani Maurya sworn in as new Uttarakhand governor]". ''The Economic Times''. 26 August 2018.</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 23
| rowspan="2"| [[File:The Governor of Chhattisgarh, Ms. Anusuiya Uikey.jpg|100px]]
! rowspan="2"| [[Anusuiya Uikey]]
| 29 July 2019
| 22 February 2023
| {{ayd|2019|7|29|2023|2|22}}
| [[Chhattisgarh]]
| <ref>{{Cite web|title=Anusuiya Uikey takes oath as governor of Chhattisgarh|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/anusuiya-uikey-oath-governor-of-chhattisgarh-1574873-2019-07-29|website=India Today|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 23 February 2023
| 26 July 2024
| {{ayd|2023|2|23|2024|7|26}}
| [[Manipur]]
|
|-
|24
|[[File:Tamilisai Soundarajan with President Kovind (cropped).jpg|100px]]
![[Tamilisai Soundararajan]]
|8 September 2019
|18 March 2024
|4 years, 192 days
|[[Telangana]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan sworn in as second Telangana Governor|date=8 September 2019|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/south/tamil-nadu-bjp-chief-tamilisai-soundararajan-sworn-in-as-second-telangana-governor/story-9nC3bd0AwN16es6wZGzIQO.html|publisher=Hindustan Times|accessdate=8 September 2019}}</ref>
|}

== See also ==
{{Commons category|Female governors of India}}
* [[List of female lieutenant governors and administrators in India]]
* [[List of female chief ministers in India]]
* [[List of female deputy chief ministers in India]]
* [[List of female legislative speakers and chairpersons in India]]
* [[List of female opposition leaders in India]]
* [[List of female chief justices in India]]
* [[List of current Indian governors]]

==References==
<references />

{{Current Indian governors}}

[[Category:Lists of governors of Indian states|*]]
[[Category:Women state governors of India|*]]
[[Category:Lists of women politicians in India|Governors]]
[[Category:Lists of female state governors|India]]

List of female governors in India - Revision history

Breakoutbanglore at 12:25, 15 April 2026