In India, a governor is the constitutional head of a state in India that has similar powers and functions at the state level as those of the President of India at the central level. A governor acts as the constitutional head and takes all their decisions based on the advice of chief minister and their council of ministers.

In India, a lieutenant governor (LG) or administrator is the constitutional head of one of the eight union territories. A lieutenant governor heads the five union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Puducherry, and an administrator heads the three union territories of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep.

Article 157 and Article 158 of the Constitution of India specify eligibility requirements for the post of governor. They are as follows:

A governor:

Traditionally, governors are not appointed to lead the states where they reside, although this is not stipulated in the constitution.

The President of India appoints the governor of each State. The factors based on which the candidates are evaluated is not mentioned in the Constitution.

A same person can be appointed as the governor of two or more States.

A governor shall stay appointed during the pleasure of the President. This alternative assumption is that they are appointed after the 'council of ministers' advise the President for such appointment. Hence, it is the Central Government that appoints them. They shall remain in office until the expiration of five years from the date on which they were appointed. They shall continue to remain in office even after the expiration of 5 years, until a governor is appointed by the President.