Braj Mohan Ram sworn in as Governor of Odisha at Lok Bhavan, Bhubaneswar (18 Oct 2026)
19-10-2026 · English
Topics: Appointments · 19 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)
News
Braj Mohan Ram, appointed by President Droupadi Murmu on 12 Oct 2026, was sworn in as Governor of Odisha at Lok Bhavan, Bhubaneswar on 18 Oct 2026 (Sunday). Orissa High Court Chief Justice Harish Tandon administered the oath. CM Mohan Charan Majhi and Speaker Surama Padhy were present. He succeeds Hari Babu Kambhampati, Governor since January 2025. A senior BJP leader from Palamu, Jharkhand, he was a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Palamu.
Key facts
| Oath | 18 Oct 2026 – Lok Bhavan, Bhubaneswar |
| Oath by | Orissa HC Chief Justice Harish Tandon (Art 159) |
| Predecessor | Hari Babu Kambhampati (from 3 Jan 2025) |
| Profile | Palamu (Jharkhand) – three-time Lok Sabha MP (1996–2004); Ranchi University graduate |
| Lok Bhavan | On MHA's suggestion (2025): Raj Bhavan → Lok Bhavan; Raj Niwas → Lok Niwas |
| Odisha | Separate province 1 Apr 1936 (Utkal Divas); 'Orissa' → 'Odisha' in 2011 |
Background
- Lok Bhavan: on the Union Home Ministry's suggestion to drop the colonial association and adopt a people-centric name, Governors' residences (Raj Bhavan) were renamed 'Lok Bhavan' and Lt Governors' residences (Raj Niwas) 'Lok Niwas' in late 2025; West Bengal and Ladakh were among the first.
- Constitution – Governor's powers: oath before the High Court Chief Justice, or in his absence the senior-most judge (Art 159). Pardon and remission (Art 161); assent / withholding / reserving Bills for the President (Art 200); ordinances (Art 213); report to the President on breakdown of constitutional machinery (Art 356). Must not be a member of Parliament or a State Legislature; emoluments cannot be cut during the term (Art 158).
- Odisha: became a separate province on linguistic lines on 1 April 1936 – celebrated as 'Utkal Divas' (Odisha Day). The Orissa (Alteration of Name) Act, 2011 renamed it 'Odisha', and the 96th Constitutional Amendment (2011) changed 'Oriya' to 'Odia' in the Eighth Schedule. Capital Bhubaneswar (earlier Cuttack); the High Court at Cuttack is still called the 'Orissa High Court'.
Tamil Nadu link: the landmark ruling on the Governor's power of assent to Bills (Art 200) came in 'State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor of Tamil Nadu' on 8 April 2025 – the Supreme Court held that Bills cannot be kept pending indefinitely and, using Art 142, deemed assent granted to 10 Bills. A five-judge Bench later gave its opinion on the President's reference (Art 143) on 20 November 2025. Tamil Nadu's Governor's residence is now 'Lok Bhavan', Chennai.
Source: ThePrint, Pragativadi, The Hans India (18 Oct 2026); OdishaBytes, Outlook (appointment); TNPSC Thervupettagam, Drishti IAS (Lok Bhavan, Dec 2025); SC Observer (TN Governor case)
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