Article 164 — Article 164 — Other Provisions as to Ministers

(1) The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, and the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor. (2) The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State.

Source: Constitution of India, as published by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

Article 164 is the state-level counterpart to Article 75 (Union ministers). Collective responsibility operates here as at the Centre: the entire state Cabinet must resign if it loses a majority in the Assembly. The Chief Minister's appointment is formally the Governor's act, but constitutional convention requires the Governor to appoint the leader of the majority party or coalition.

• Article 153
• Article 163
• Article 356

Last reviewed: 3 July 2026