MPPSC 2022 Prelims Paper-I · Question 16 of 100

Correct — A, Sarla Grewal. She served as Governor of Madhya Pradesh from 1989 to 1990, becoming the first woman to hold that office in the state. She was a senior career IAS officer before her appointment as Governor.

• (b)Nandini Satpathy — A politician who became the first woman Chief Minister of Odisha (1972–76) — never held the office of Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
• (c)Anandiben — Anandiben Patel, former Chief Minister of Gujarat, has served as Governor of Madhya Pradesh — but only in more recent years, not as the first woman to hold the post.
• (d)Droupadi Murmu — She was the first woman Governor of Jharkhand and later became President of India — not connected to the Madhya Pradesh Governorship.

The Governor of a State is appointed by the President under Article 155 of the Constitution and holds office during the President's pleasure (Article 156). 'First woman to hold office X in State Y' is a recurring MPPSC factual category — students must anchor the specific state, not just the national-level first.

The trap here is mixing up MP's own first (Sarla Grewal) with India's national first woman Governor of any state (Sarojini Naidu, Uttar Pradesh, 1947) or with more recent/famous women who have also held the MP Governorship or other high offices, like the distractors offered.

• Sarla Grewal — first woman Governor of Madhya Pradesh (1989–1990)
• She was a senior career IAS officer before her gubernatorial appointment
• Governors are appointed by the President under Article 155
• Not to be confused with Sarojini Naidu, India's first woman Governor of any state (Uttar Pradesh, 1947)

• Confusing MP's first woman Governor with India's first woman Governor of any state
• Assuming a well-known recent woman Governor (like Anandiben) must be the 'first'

MPPSC frequently tests 'first woman to hold office X in Madhya Pradesh' — Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, judge — so pair each MP fact with its national-level counterpart.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Who was the first woman Governor of any Indian state?

  • (a)Sarojini Naidu
  • (b)Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
  • (c)Sarla Grewal
  • (d)Fathima Beevi

  Answer(a) Sarojini Naidu — first woman Governor of any Indian state, Uttar Pradesh, from 1947.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which Article of the Constitution of India provides for the appointment of the Governor of a State by the President?

  • (a)Article 153
  • (b)Article 154
  • (c)Article 155
  • (d)Article 156

  Answer(c) Article 155 — the President appoints the Governor of each State.