Educationists from Maharashtra D Y Patil was appointed as the Governor of Tripura in place of Kamla, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said.
Patnaik will take charge from Syed Sibtey Razi whose term comes to an end on December nine.
The appointments will take effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices, the communique said.
82-year-old Patnaik is becoming the governor for the first time and the Congress leadership was pressing him hard for long to accept a gubernatorial assignment.
While the terms of several governors, including S F Rodrigue in Punjab, are over, today's decision only covers three states.