Gurumukh Nihal Singh was appointed as the first Governor of Rajasthan on -
- (1)2nd November, 1956
- (2)25th October, 1956
- (3)1st November, 1956
- (4)26th October, 1956
Answer
Why
Correct — option (2), 25th October, 1956.
The stem asks for the date Gurumukh Nihal Singh was appointed as Rajasthan's first Governor. RPSC's final key gives that date as 25 October 1956.
Appointment and taking charge are two steps. Raj Bhavan, Rajasthan records that he took charge on 1 November 1956, after the reorganisation of the princely states, and held office until 15 April 1962. An appointment cannot come after the day of taking charge.
The office he took up was new. Until 31 October 1956, Rajasthan was a Part B State headed by a Rajpramukh: Raj Bhavan dates Maharaja Sawai Man Singh's tenure as Rajpramukh from 30 March 1949 to 31 October 1956.
The Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956 omitted Part VII, on the States in Part B of the First Schedule, with effect from 1 November 1956. From that day Rajasthan had a Governor.
The idea to remember: appointed 25 October 1956 (RPSC's key); took charge 1 November 1956 (Raj Bhavan).
Why the others are wrong
- (1)2nd November, 1956 — This date comes after he was already in office. Raj Bhavan, Rajasthan records that Gurumukh Nihal Singh took charge on 1 November 1956.
An appointment cannot come after taking charge, so a date after 1 November 1956 cannot be the date of appointment.
- (3)1st November, 1956 — 1 November 1956 is the day he took charge, as Raj Bhavan, Rajasthan records, and the day the Seventh Amendment's changes to the States took effect.
The stem asks for the date of appointment, a separate and earlier step, which RPSC's key gives as 25 October 1956.
- (4)26th October, 1956 — RPSC's final key gives the appointment date as 25 October 1956, one day earlier than this option.
What the Raj Bhavan record fixes independently is the later step: he took charge on 1 November 1956, the day the Seventh Amendment took effect.
Concept
When the Constitution came into force, the States were grouped in Parts A, B and C of the First Schedule. Rajasthan was a Part B State, formed from princely states and headed by a Rajpramukh instead of a Governor.
The Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956, with effect from 1 November 1956, omitted Part VII of the Constitution, which dealt with the States in Part B, and substituted a new First Schedule.
From then on, Rajasthan had a Governor, appointed by the President. Gurumukh Nihal Singh was the first.
RPSC's 2021 syllabus lists "Governor, Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, Legislative Assembly, High Court." under the State Political System, and "Integration of Rajasthan." under history.
Gurumukh Nihal Singh came to Rajasthan from Delhi politics. Raj Bhavan's biography says he was elected to the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1952, became its Speaker on 7 May 1952, and was Chief Minister of Delhi from 13 February 1955 until the Delhi Assembly ceased to exist on 31 October 1956.
Before politics he taught economics and political science at Banaras Hindu University from 1920, and was principal of colleges in Ahmedabad and Delhi.
Key facts
- RPSC's final key: Gurumukh Nihal Singh was appointed the first Governor of Rajasthan on 25 October 1956.
- Raj Bhavan, Rajasthan: he took charge on 1 November 1956 and held office until 15 April 1962.
- Raj Bhavan: Maharaja Sawai Man Singh was Rajpramukh from 30 March 1949 to 31 October 1956.
- The Seventh Amendment Act, 1956 omitted Part VII (States in Part B) with effect from 1 November 1956.
- Raj Bhavan: Gurumukh Nihal Singh was Chief Minister of Delhi from 13 February 1955 to 31 October 1956.
Sources: Raj Bhavan, Rajasthan biographies; Constitution of India, footnotes on the Seventh Amendment; appointment date from RPSC's final key.
Study next
Common traps
- Answering with the day of taking charge: 1 November 1956 is when he took charge; the stem asks for the appointment date.
- Picking a date after 1 November 1956: an appointment cannot follow the day he was already in office.
- Mixing the heads of the State: Man Singh was Rajpramukh until 31 October 1956; Gurumukh Nihal Singh was the first Governor.
A question can ask the date of appointment of Rajasthan's first Governor, or give statements on the change from Rajpramukh to Governor and ask which is not correct.
A question can also ask who was Rajasthan's first Rajpramukh or first Governor.
Related PYQs
Which of the following statement is not correct regarding the Governor of Rajasthan ?
- (1) On the basis of the recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission, the institution of Rajpramukh was abolished.
- (2) The institution of Rajpramukh was abolished by the 7th Constitutional amendment.
- (3) Gurumukh Nihal Singh was appointed as the first Governor of Rajasthan on 1st November, 1956 AD.
- (4) Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde assumed the office of the Governor of Rajasthan on 31st July, 2024.
Answer(3)
Same Governor, same dates: that question asks which statement regarding the Governor of Rajasthan is not correct (RPSC's key: the statement that Gurumukh Nihal Singh was appointed as the first Governor of Rajasthan on 1st November, 1956 AD). This one asks for the appointment date directly.
Who was appointed first Raj Pramukh of Rajasthan ?
- (1) Maharaja Umed Singh of Jodhpur
- (2) Maharaja Karni Singh of Bikaner
- (3) Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur
- (4) Maharana Bhagwat Singh of Udaipur
Answer(3)
The office before the Governor: that question asks who was appointed first Raj Pramukh of Rajasthan (RPSC's key: Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur). This one asks when the first Governor was appointed.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
Who was the Rajpramukh of Rajasthan immediately before the office of Governor was introduced on 1 November 1956?
- (a)Hiralal Shastri
- (b)Maharaja Sawai Man Singh
- (c)Gurumukh Nihal Singh
- (d)Mohan Lal Sukhadia
Answer(2) — Raj Bhavan, Rajasthan records Maharaja Sawai Man Singh as Rajpramukh from 30 March 1949 to 31 October 1956. Option (3) was the first Governor, who took charge on 1 November 1956. Options (1) and (4) were Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, not Rajpramukhs. - practice — not a real PYQ
Before becoming the first Governor of Rajasthan, Gurumukh Nihal Singh was the Chief Minister of
- (a)Punjab
- (b)Delhi
- (c)Ajmer
- (d)Bombay
Answer(2) — Raj Bhavan's biography says he was Chief Minister of Delhi from 13 February 1955 until the Delhi Assembly ceased to exist on 31 October 1956. Options (1), (3) and (4) are not States he led.