The Governor serves as the leader of a state, just as the President serves as the head of the republic. The formal head of a state is he, whereas the executive head is the CM. In the state, all executive actions are taken in the name of the Governor. In actuality, he only grants his approval to the various executive actions. The Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers have the real power in a state's executive dealings.

According to an amendment in the Constitution of India, brought about in 1956, the same person can be the Governor of two or more states.

Lieutenant-Governors are appointed in the Union Territories of Delhi, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Pudducherry, in addition to governors in the states. An Administrative Head governs all other union-territories (an IAS officer). Chandigarh is the one exception. The governor of Punjab also serves as Chandigarh's deputy governor. The powers of a union-Lieutenant territory's Governor are equivalent to those of a state's Governor in India. Both are appointed by India's President for a five-year term.