The governors of the states of India have similar powers and functions at the state level as those of the president of India at the central level. Governors exist in the states, while lieutenant governors exist in union territories including the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The governor acts as the nominal head whereas the real power lies with the chief ministers of the states and his or her councils of ministers. Although, in union territories, the real power lies with the lieutenant governor or administrator, except in the NCT of Delhi and Puducherry, where the governor shares power with a council of ministers headed by a chief minister. Few or no governors are local to the state that they are appointed. In India, a lieutenant governor is leader of a union territory. However, the rank is present only in the union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Puducherry (the other territories have a administrator appointed, who is usually a politician of the ruling party in the Government of India). However, the governor of Punjab serves as the administrator of Chandigarh. Lieutenant governors do not hold the same rank as a governor of a state in the list of precedence. The governors and lieutenant governors are appointed by the president for a term of five years. Selection process Qualifications Article 157 and Article 158 of the Constitution of India specify eligibility requirements for the post of governor. They are as follows: A governor: must be at least 35 years of age. should not be a member of the either house of the parliament or house of the state legislature. should not hold any office of profit. Traditionally, governors are not appointed to lead the states where they reside, although this is not stipulated in the constitution. Appointment The governor of a state is appointed by the president of India. The factors based on which the president evaluates the candidates is not mentioned in the Constitution. Powers and functions The primary function of the governor is to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and the law as incorporated in their oath of office under Article 159 of the Indian constitution in the administration of the state affairs. All the governor's actions, recommendations and supervisory powers (Article 167c, Article 200, Article 213, Article 355, etc.) over the executive and legislative entities of a state shall