<P> In India, a governor is the constitutional head of each of the twenty - nine states . The governor is appointed by the President of India for a term of five years, and holds office at the President's pleasure . The governor is de jure head of the state government; all its executive actions are taken in the governor's name . However, the governor must act on the advice of the popularly elected council of ministers, headed by the chief minister, who thus hold de facto executive authority at the state - level . The Constitution of India also empowers the governor to act upon his or her own discretion, such as the ability to appoint or dismiss a ministry, recommend President's rule, or reserve bills for the President's assent . Over the years, the exercise of these discretionary powers have given rise to conflict between the elected chief minister and the central government--appointed governor . The union territories of Andaman and Nicobar, Delhi and Puducherry are headed by lieutenant - governors . </P> <P> Sarojini Naidu was the first female to become the governor of an Indian state . She governed Uttar Pradesh from 15 August 1947 to 2 March 1949 . Her daughter, Padmaja Naidu, is the longest - serving governor with 11 - year tenure in West Bengal . Draupadi Murmu was recently appointed as the first woman governor of Jharkhand . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> From </Th> <Th> To </Th> <Th> Term length </Th> <Th> State </Th> <Th> Reference </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sarojini Naidu </Td> <Td> 15 August 1947 </Td> <Td> 2 March 1949 </Td> <Td> 7002565000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 199 days </Td> <Td> Uttar Pradesh </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Padmaja Naidu </Td> <Td> 3 November 1956 </Td> <Td> 31 May 1967 </Td> <Td> 7003386100000000000 ♠ 10 years, 209 days </Td> <Td> West Bengal </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vijayalakshmi Pandit </Td> <Td> 28 November 1962 </Td> <Td> 18 October 1964 </Td> <Td> 7002690000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 325 days </Td> <Td> Maharashtra </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sharda Mukherjee </Td> <Td> 5 May 1977 </Td> <Td> 14 August 1978 </Td> <Td> 7002466000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 101 days </Td> <Td> Andhra Pradesh </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jyothi Venkatachalam </Td> <Td> 14 October 1977 </Td> <Td> 27 October 1982 </Td> <Td> 7003183900000000000 ♠ 5 years, 13 days </Td> <Td> Kerala </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sharda Mukherjee </Td> <Td> 14 August 1978 </Td> <Td> 5 August 1983 </Td> <Td> 7003181700000000000 ♠ 4 years, 356 days </Td> <Td> Gujarat </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kumudben Manishankar Joshi </Td> <Td> 26 November 1985 </Td> <Td> 2 February 1990 </Td> <Td> 7003152900000000000 ♠ 4 years, 68 days </Td> <Td> Andhra Pradesh </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ram Dulari Sinha </Td> <Td> 23 February 1988 </Td> <Td> 12 February 1990 </Td> <Td> 7002720000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 354 days </Td> <Td> Kerala </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sarla Grewal </Td> <Td> 31 March 1989 </Td> <Td> 5 February 1990 </Td> <Td> 7002311000000000000 ♠ 311 days </Td> <Td> Madhya Pradesh </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chandrawati </Td> <Td> 19 February 1990 </Td> <Td> 18 December 1990 </Td> <Td> 7002302000000000000 ♠ 302 days </Td> <Td> Puducherry </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rajendra Kumari Bajpai </Td> <Td> 2 May 1995 </Td> <Td> 22 April 1998 </Td> <Td> 7003108600000000000 ♠ 2 years, 355 days </Td> <Td> Puducherry </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sheila Kaul </Td> <Td> 17 November 1995 </Td> <Td> 23 April 1996 </Td> <Td> 7002158000000000000 ♠ 158 days </Td> <Td> Himachal Pradesh </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fathima Beevi </Td> <Td> 25 January 1997 </Td> <Td> 1 July 2001 </Td> <Td> 7003161800000000000 ♠ 4 years, 157 days </Td> <Td> Tamil Nadu </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> V.S. Ramadevi </Td> <Td> 26 July 1997 </Td> <Td> 1 December 1999 </Td> <Td> 7002858000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 128 days </Td> <Td> Himachal Pradesh </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rajani Rai </Td> <Td> 23 April 1998 </Td> <Td> 29 July 2002 </Td> <Td> 7003155800000000000 ♠ 4 years, 97 days </Td> <Td> Puducherry </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> V.S. Ramadevi </Td> <Td> 2 December 1999 </Td> <Td> 20 August 2002 </Td> <Td> 7002992000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 261 days </Td> <Td> Karnataka </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pratibha Patil </Td> <Td> 8 November 2004 </Td> <Td> 23 June 2007 </Td> <Td> 7002957000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 227 days </Td> <Td> Rajasthan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Prabha Rau </Td> <Td> 19 July 2008 </Td> <Td> 24 January 2010 </Td> <Td> 7002554000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 189 days </Td> <Td> Himachal Pradesh </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Margaret Alva </Td> <Td> 6 August 2009 </Td> <Td> 14 May 2012 </Td> <Td> 7002992000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 262 days </Td> <Td> Uttarakhand </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kamla Beniwal </Td> <Td> 27 November 2009 </Td> <Td> 6 July 2014 </Td> <Td> 7003168200000000000 ♠ 4 years, 221 days </Td> <Td> Gujarat </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Prabha Rau </Td> <Td> 25 January 2010 </Td> <Td> 26 April 2010 </Td> <Td> 7001910000000000000 ♠ 91 days </Td> <Td> Rajasthan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Urmila Singh </Td> <Td> 25 January 2010 </Td> <Td> 27 January 2015 </Td> <Td> 7003182800000000000 ♠ 5 years, 2 days </Td> <Td> Himachal Pradesh </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Margaret Alva </Td> <Td> 12 May 2012 </Td> <Td> 7 August 2014 </Td> <Td> 7002817000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 87 days </Td> <Td> Rajasthan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sheila Dikshit </Td> <Td> 11 March 2014 </Td> <Td> 25 August 2014 </Td> <Td> 7002167000000000000 ♠ 167 days </Td> <Td> Kerala </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kamla Beniwal </Td> <Td> 6 July 2014 </Td> <Td> 6 August 2014 </Td> <Td> 7001310000000000000 ♠ 31 days </Td> <Td> Mizoram </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mridula Sinha </Td> <Td> 31 August 2014 </Td> <Td> Incumbent </Td> <Td> 7003114800000000000 ♠ 3 years, 52 days </Td> <Td> Goa </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Draupadi Murmu </Td> <Td> 18 May 2015 </Td> <Td> Incumbent </Td> <Td> 7002888000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 157 days </Td> <Td> Jharkhand </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kiran Bedi </Td> <Td> 29 May 2016 </Td> <Td> Incumbent </Td> <Td> 7002511000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 146 days </Td> <Td> Puducherry </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Najma Heptulla </Td> <Td> 21 August 2016 </Td> <Td> Incumbent </Td> <Td> 7002427000000000000 ♠ 1 year, 62 days </Td> <Td> Manipur </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

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