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โš–๏ธ Polity of Bihar Chapter 13: Office-Holders of Bihar: Governors, CMs, Chief Justices, Speakers

Module 1: Governors after Independence

๐Ÿ“– Chapter 13 of 14 ๐Ÿงฉ Module 1 of 7 โฑ๏ธ ~4 min read ๐Ÿ’ก 8 MCQs
Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 1.1: Governors after Independence

  • Jairamdas Daulatram was the first Governor of Bihar after independence (15 Aug 1947 - 11 Jan 1948).
  • Dr Zakir Husain (1957-62) and Ram Nath Kovind (2015-17) later became President of India.
  • Patna High Court Chief Justices Ujjwal Narayan Sinha (1971) and K. B. N. Singh (1978, 1979) served as acting Governors.
  • Dr A. R. Kidwai was Governor twice (1979-85 and 1993-98). Buta Singh was Governor when President's Rule was imposed in March 2005.
  • After D. Y. Patil (2013-14): Ram Nath Kovind, Satya Pal Malik, Lalji Tandon, Phagu Chauhan (2019-23), Rajendra Arlekar (2023-24) and Arif Mohammed Khan (2025-26).
  • Current Governor (Oct 2026): Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), sworn in on 14 March 2026. The Governor's residence in Patna, formerly Raj Bhavan, is now called Lok Bhavan.
#GovernorTenure
1Jairamdas Daulatram15 Aug 1947 - 11 Jan 1948
2Madhav Shrihari Aney12 Jan 1948 - 14 Jun 1952
3Ranganath Ramchandra Diwakar15 Jun 1952 - 5 Jul 1957
4Dr Zakir Husain6 Jul 1957 - 11 May 1962
5M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar12 May 1962 - 6 Dec 1967
6Nityanand Kanungo7 Dec 1967 - 20 Jan 1971
7Justice Ujjwal Narayan Sinha (acting)21 - 31 Jan 1971
8Dev Kant Borooah1 Feb 1971 - 4 Feb 1975
9Ramchandra Dhondiba Bhandare4 Feb 1975 - 15 Jun 1976
10Jagannath Kaushal16 Jun 1976 - 31 Jan 1979 (with a break)
11Justice K. B. N. Singh (acting)1978; 31 Jan - 9 Sep 1979
12Dr A. R. Kidwai10 Sep 1979 - 15 Mar 1985; 15 Jul 1993 - 21 Apr 1998
13P. Venkatasubbaiah15 Mar 1985 - 25 Feb 1988
14Govind Narayan Singh26 Feb 1988 - 23 Jan 1989
15Jagannath Pahadia3 Mar - 21 Sep 1989
16Mohd. Yunus Saleem6 Feb 1990 - 13 Feb 1991
17Mohd. Shafi Qureshi19 Mar 1991 - 15 Jul 1993
18Sunder Singh Bhandari22 Apr 1998 - 1999
19Vinod Chandra Pande1999 - 12 Jun 2003
20M. Rama Jois12 Jun 2003 - 31 Oct 2004
21Buta Singh5 Nov 2004 - 2006
22Gopalkrishna Gandhi (acting)2006
23R. S. Gavai22 Jun 2006 - Jul 2008
24R. L. BhatiaJul 2008 - 28 Jun 2009
25Devanand Konwar29 Jun 2009 - 21 Mar 2013
26D. Y. Patil22 Mar 2013 - 26 Nov 2014
27Ram Nath Kovind16 Aug 2015 - 20 Jun 2017
28Satya Pal Malik4 Oct 2017 - 23 Aug 2018
29Lalji Tandon23 Aug 2018 - 28 Jul 2019
30Phagu Chauhan29 Jul 2019 - 12 Feb 2023
31Rajendra Arlekar17 Feb 2023 - 1 Jan 2025
32Arif Mohammed Khan2 Jan 2025 - Mar 2026
33Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.)14 Mar 2026 -
โญ Key Points
  • Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), sworn in on 14 March 2026.
  • Lok Bhavan.
  • Jairamdas Daulatram (1947-48).
  • Ram Nath Kovind (and earlier Dr Zakir Husain).
  • 6 Jul 1957 - 11 May 1962.
  • Dr A. R. Kidwai.
  • Arif Mohammed Khan, after Rajendra Arlekar (he served until March 2026).
  • Justice Ujjwal Narayan Sinha (21-31 Jan 1971).
๐Ÿ“Œ One-line Q&A
  • Question: Who is the current (2026) Governor of Bihar? Answer: Syed Ata Hasnain.
  • Question: The Governor's residence in Patna (formerly Raj Bhavan) is now called: Answer: Lok Bhavan.
  • Question: Who was the first Governor of Bihar after independence? Answer: Jairamdas Daulatram.
  • Question: Which Governor of Bihar later became President of India? Answer: Ram Nath Kovind.
  • Question: Dr Zakir Husain was Governor of Bihar during: Answer: 1957-62.
  • Question: Who was the Governor of Bihar twice (1979-85 and 1993-98)? Answer: Dr A. R. Kidwai.
  • Question: Who became Governor of Bihar on 2 January 2025? Answer: Arif Mohammed Khan.
  • Question: Which Patna HC Chief Justice served as acting Governor in January 1971? Answer: Ujjwal Narayan Sinha.
Topic
Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: Who is the current (2026) Governor of Bihar?

Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), sworn in on 14 March 2026.

Question 2: The Governor's residence in Patna (formerly Raj Bhavan) is now called:

Lok Bhavan.

Question 3: Who was the first Governor of Bihar after independence?

Jairamdas Daulatram (1947-48).

Question 4: Which Governor of Bihar later became President of India?

Ram Nath Kovind (and earlier Dr Zakir Husain).

Question 5: Dr Zakir Husain was Governor of Bihar during:

6 Jul 1957 - 11 May 1962.

Question 6: Who was the Governor of Bihar twice (1979-85 and 1993-98)?

Dr A. R. Kidwai.

Question 7: Who became Governor of Bihar on 2 January 2025?

Arif Mohammed Khan, after Rajendra Arlekar (he served until March 2026).

Question 8: Which Patna HC Chief Justice served as acting Governor in January 1971?

Justice Ujjwal Narayan Sinha (21-31 Jan 1971).
Question 1 of 8

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Who is the current (2026) Governor of Bihar?

Syed Ata Hasnain.

The Governor's residence in Patna (formerly Raj Bhavan) is now called:

Lok Bhavan.

Who was the first Governor of Bihar after independence?

Jairamdas Daulatram.

Which Governor of Bihar later became President of India?

Ram Nath Kovind.

Dr Zakir Husain was Governor of Bihar during:

1957-62.

Who was the Governor of Bihar twice (1979-85 and 1993-98)?

Dr A. R. Kidwai.

Who became Governor of Bihar on 2 January 2025?

Arif Mohammed Khan.

Which Patna HC Chief Justice served as acting Governor in January 1971?

Ujjwal Narayan Sinha.
Question 1 of 8