UPSC CSE Prelims
Comptroller and Auditor General Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Comptroller and Auditor General with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
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Consider the following statements :
- Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India are the only officers of the Government who are allowed to participate in the meetings of the Parliament of India.
- According to the Constitution of India, the Attorney General of India submits his resignation when the Government which appointed him resigns.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Neither 1 nor 2
Both statements contain constitutional inaccuracies regarding parliamentary participation rights and the tenure of the Attorney General. Statement 1 incorrectly includes the Solicitor General, while Statement 2 misrepresents the constitutional provisions regarding the Attorney General's resignation.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Article 88 grants the right to participate in Parliament only to Ministers and the Attorney General of India, not the Solicitor General of India. Additionally, other officers like the Comptroller and Auditor General may also be invited to participate in specific contexts.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Article 76 states that the Attorney General holds office during the pleasure of the President, not linked to the government's tenure. There is no constitutional requirement for automatic resignation when the government changes.
📝 Short Notes: Attorney General of India (Article 76)
- Appointment: Appointed by the President; must be qualified to be a Supreme Court Judge
- Tenure: Holds office during the pleasure of the President (no fixed term); receives remuneration determined by the President
- Rights (Article 88): Can speak and participate in both Houses, joint sittings, and parliamentary committees but cannot vote
- Duties: Advises the Government on legal matters, performs legal duties assigned by the President, and represents the Government in the Supreme Court
- Solicitor General: Assists the Attorney General but has no constitutional provision for parliamentary participation
- Private Practice: The Attorney General can engage in private practice but cannot advise against the Government or appear against it
In India, other than ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and for the intended purpose, what is the importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)?
- CAG exercises exchequer control on behalf of the Parliament when the President of India declares national emergency/financial emergency.
- CAG reports on the execution of projects or programmes by the ministries are discussed by the Public Accounts Committee.
- Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances.
- While dealing with the audit and accounting of government companies, CAG has certain judicial powers for prosecuting those who violate the law.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: CAG does not exercise exchequer control during national/financial emergency; it performs audit functions independently under Article 148-151, not executive control over funds.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: CAG reports on execution of projects/programmes are examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which scrutinizes government expenditure based on these audit findings.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Information from CAG audit reports can be used by investigating agencies (CBI, ED) as evidence to initiate action against those who misused public funds or violated financial laws.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: CAG has no judicial powers to prosecute; it is an audit body that reports irregularities but cannot conduct prosecutions or impose penalties.
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