Under the Constitution of India, who appoints the Governor of a State in India?

Introduction / Context:
The office of the Governor is a vital link between the Union and the States in India. Governors serve as the constitutional heads of States, and their appointment process reflects the federal character of the Indian polity. Knowing who appoints the Governor is a basic but frequently tested point in examinations on Indian Polity.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The options provided are the Prime Minister of India, the Council of Ministers of India, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India and the President of India.
- The question refers specifically to the appointing authority, not the advisory body or the process behind the scenes.
- Article 155 of the Constitution is directly relevant to this topic.
- It is assumed that the student understands the difference between the formal appointing authority and the body that may advise that authority.

Concept / Approach:
Article 155 of the Constitution of India states that the Governor of a State shall be appointed by the President by warrant under the President's hand and seal. Though the President usually acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, the formal constitutional act of appointment is attributed to the President. Therefore, the correct approach is to identify the President as the appointing authority rather than the advisory or recommending authorities.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Article 155 explicitly mentions that the Governor is appointed by the President of India. Step 2: Recognise that the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers advise the President but are not themselves described as appointing authorities in the Constitution. Step 3: Understand that Judges of the Supreme Court do not have any role in the appointment of Governors; their roles lie in the judiciary. Step 4: Based on the constitutional text, identify the President of India as the authority who appoints the Governor by issuing a warrant under hand and seal. Step 5: Therefore, among the options provided, the President of India is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by referring to Article 155 in any standard Indian Polity textbook or directly in the Constitution, where the language clearly specifies the President as the appointing authority. Additionally, official notifications regarding the appointment of Governors are issued in the name of the President. There is no legal provision assigning this role to the Prime Minister, Council of Ministers or Supreme Court Judges, which confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Prime Minister of India) is wrong because the Prime Minister does not directly appoint Governors. The Prime Minister may be involved in recommending names, but the formal appointment authority is the President.
Option B (Council of Ministers of India) is wrong because, while the Council of Ministers collectively advises the President, the Constitution clearly identifies the President, not the Council, as the appointing authority.
Option C (A Judge of the Supreme Court of India) is wrong because Judges play no role in appointing Governors; their role is judicial, not executive.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to confuse the advisory role of the Council of Ministers with the formal constitutional authority of the President. Some candidates assume that because the President usually acts on advice, the practical power lies with the Prime Minister or the Council and mistakenly pick one of those as the appointing authority. However, examination questions typically expect the formal constitutional answer. Remembering the exact wording of Article 155 helps avoid this confusion.

Final Answer:
The Governor of a State in India is appointed by the President of India.