Uttarakhand now has a new constitutional head in Governor Dhal Singh Bisen. President Droupadi Murmu appointed Dr. Bisen on 12 October 2026. He succeeds Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd.), who served the state for over five years. Later, on 19 October 2026, Bisen took oath at Lok Bhavan, Dehradun. Notably, he is the ninth Governor of Uttarakhand.
Appointment in a Six-State Reshuffle
The President announced Bisen’s appointment in a wider reshuffle on 12 October 2026. Om Prakash Mathur moved from Sikkim to Keralam, while Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar shifted from Keralam to Tamil Nadu. Also, Braj Mohan Ram became Governor of Odisha and Sudha Yadav got Karnataka. Meanwhile, Dushyant Gautam got Sikkim.
Swearing-in at Lok Bhavan
Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari of the Uttarakhand High Court administered the oath. Lok Bhavan is the official residence and office of the Governor in Dehradun. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, cabinet ministers and Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan attended the ceremony. Earlier, Dhami welcomed the appointment.
Who Is Dr. Dhal Singh Bisen?
Bisen comes from Madhya Pradesh and is a senior BJP leader. He represented Balaghat in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024). Before that, he won four terms as a member of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. Moreover, he served as a Cabinet Minister in the state government. His portfolios included school education, forest, transport and mines. Also, he is an Ayurvedic practitioner by profession.
The Governor in the Constitution
Article 153 provides a Governor for each state. Under Article 155, the President appoints the Governor by warrant under hand and seal. Moreover, under Article 156, the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President, normally for five years. Article 157 requires the Governor to be an Indian citizen aged at least 35 years. Also, Article 163 provides a Council of Ministers, headed by the Chief Minister, to aid and advise the Governor.
Governor Dhal Singh Bisen: Key Facts for Revision
- Appointed: 12 October 2026 by President Droupadi Murmu
- Oath: 19 October 2026, Lok Bhavan, Dehradun
- Oath by: Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari
- Number: Ninth Governor of Uttarakhand
- Predecessor: Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd.), in office since September 2021
- Background: Former Balaghat MP, four-time MLA and former Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister
Why Governor Dhal Singh Bisen Matters for UKPSC
Notably, UKPSC often asks about the list of Uttarakhand Governors. So, remember Bisen’s number, his oath date and his predecessor. Also, link him with Surjit Singh Barnala, the first Governor, and Margaret Alva, the first woman Governor. For official updates, also visit Government of Uttarakhand. Next, for a related story, read about Gurmit Singh, the longest-serving Governor of Uttarakhand. You can also download our free Uttarakhand Current Affairs magazine.
So, are you preparing for the UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 prelims? Then join our UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series for regular practice.