R.N. Ravi Takes Oath as 22nd Governor of West Bengal

Former IPS officer R. N. Ravi took oath as the 22nd Governor of West Bengal at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata on Thursday morning, March 12, 2026. The oath of office was administered by Sujoy Paul, the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Sardar Patel Unity Hall inside Lok Bhavan and was attended by several senior political leaders and officials. Among those present were Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal; Biman Banerjee, Speaker of the State Assembly; Firhad Hakim, senior minister and Mayor of Kolkata; and Biman Bose, chairman of the Left Front.

However, no leaders from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party were present at the ceremony.

The event began with the singing of the national song and the national anthem, following which Mr. Ravi was presented with a Guard of Honour at Lok Bhavan before taking the oath of office.

Several senior bureaucrats were also in attendance, including Nandini Chakravorty, the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, along with senior officials from the state administration and police.

Following the oath ceremony, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the newly appointed Governor and his wife by presenting them with traditional ‘uttariyas’ (stoles) as a mark of respect and hospitality. During a brief interaction, Ms. Banerjee described West Bengal as a land rich in culture and heritage, adding that the people of Bengal warmly embrace those who appreciate the state and its traditions.

In his remarks, Governor Ravi referred to Kolkata as the cultural capital of India and noted its historical importance, recalling that the city once served as the capital of British India. He expressed his commitment to fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities and said he would closely observe developments in the state while working within the framework of the Constitution.

Mr. Ravi’s appointment follows the resignation of his predecessor, C. V. Ananda Bose, who stepped down from the post on March 5, 2026. Mr. Bose later stated that he had taken a “conscious decision” to resign from the office of Governor.

Before assuming his new role in West Bengal, R. N. Ravi had held several important gubernatorial positions. He previously served as the Governor of Nagaland and Meghalaya, and later as the Governor of Tamil Nadu. His tenure in Tamil Nadu had been marked by significant political developments and debates over the role of the Governor in state governance.

A former officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS), Mr. Ravi has also held key roles in national security and governance during his career. His appointment as Governor of West Bengal comes at a politically sensitive time, as the state continues to play a major role in national political discussions.

With the swearing-in now complete, R. N. Ravi officially assumes his responsibilities as the constitutional head of West Bengal, tasked with ensuring the smooth functioning of the state’s democratic institutions while maintaining coordination between the state government and the Union government.

His tenure is expected to be closely watched in the coming months, particularly given West Bengal’s dynamic political environment and its significance in India’s federal structure.