Under the Constitution of India, for what formal term of office is a State Governor appointed, subject to holding office at the pleasure of the President?

Introduction / Context:
The Governor is the constitutional head of a State in India, just as the President is the head of the Union. Although a Governor holds office at the pleasure of the President, the Constitution also provides a formal term of office. This question tests whether you know that the term is five years, which is a common exam point in Indian polity.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The office discussed is that of a State Governor in India.
• The question asks for the formal term of office mentioned in the Constitution.
• The options list four possible term lengths: three, four, five, and six years.
• We assume knowledge that actual tenure can end earlier because the Governor holds office at the pleasure of the President.

Concept / Approach:
Article 156 of the Constitution of India states that the Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, but also that the Governor shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he or she enters office. This means the normal term is five years, although the President can remove or transfer the Governor earlier. Therefore, the correct answer is the option that states a five year term.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the exact wording of Article 156, which mentions a term of five years for a Governor. Step 2: Recognise that the phrase pleasure of the President does not remove the five year term; it simply means the term can be cut short. Step 3: Examine the options and identify five years as option B. Step 4: Check that no other option matches the constitutional term. Step 5: Therefore, select five years as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, remember that both the President of India and State Governors have a five year term, although they may serve longer if successors have not taken office or may leave earlier. Many standard polity textbooks highlight this parallel. Revising such tables where offices and their terms are grouped together is a useful way to confirm the five year term for Governors.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Four years is not prescribed by the Constitution for Governors; it is associated with some other offices in different systems but not here. Six years is often associated with Rajya Sabha membership or certain constitutional posts, not the office of Governor. Three years is not a standard constitutional term for major offices in India and does not appear in Article 156.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the term of a Governor with the term of a Rajya Sabha member or the term of a President. Because many numbers appear in polity, mixing them is easy. A simple memory aid is to note that the President and Governors both have five year terms, Lok Sabha has a normal five year term, and Rajya Sabha members have a six year term with one third members retiring every two years.

Final Answer:
A State Governor is formally appointed for a five year term, subject to holding office at the pleasure of the President.