Home The Constitution Part VI Article 166

Art. 166 Part VI: The States

Conduct of Business of the Government of a State

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) All executive action of the Government of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor. (2) Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the Governor shall be authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules to be made by the Governor, and the validity of an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the Governor. (3) The Governor shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of the State, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

The state-level mirror of Article 77 — every state executive action is formally expressed as taken 'in the name of the Governor', with proper authentication protecting orders from being challenged just because the Governor personally didn't sign them, and the Governor setting rules for how state government business is conducted and allocated among ministers.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why official state government documents and orders are similarly issued in the Governor's name, even though ministers and officials actually make the substantive decisions — the same constitutional fiction operating at the Union level applies here too.

Read alongside this one

Art. 77 — Conduct of Business of the Government of India

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 166

Does every state government order need the Governor's personal signature?

No — similar to Article 77's Union-level rule, properly authenticated orders are protected from challenge just for lacking the Governor's personal, individual signature.

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The text above reproduces Article 166 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.