Constitutional Bodies — Set 8

Correct Answer: B. Comptroller and Auditor General

• **CAG = head of Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD)** = The Comptroller and Auditor General of India heads the Indian Audit and Accounts Department; his office is created by the Constitution (Article 148). • **Accountability of executive to Parliament** — Through his audit reports tabled in Parliament, the CAG ensures the executive's financial accountability to the legislature. • 💡 Option A (Controller General of Accounts) is under Ministry of Finance, not IA&AD; Option C (Public Accounts Committee); Option D (Finance Secretary) is bureaucratic executive — only CAG heads IA&AD.

Correct Answer: A. Advocate General

• **Article 165 = Advocate General of the State** = Article 165 deals with the Advocate General for the State, the highest law officer at the state level. • **Appointed by Governor** — The Advocate General is appointed by the Governor; he must be qualified to be a Judge of a High Court and holds office at the Governor's pleasure. • 💡 Option B (Chief Minister) is the political head, not a state-level officer under Art.165; Option C (High Court Judge) is governed by Art.217; Option D (Governor) is Art.153 — only Advocate General is Art.165.

Correct Answer: B. Attorney General of India

• **Attorney General = first Law Officer of the Government of India** = The Attorney General of India is the first (and highest) law officer of the Government of India under Article 76. • **Advice and representation** — He advises the government on legal matters referred by the President and represents the government in the Supreme Court. • 💡 Option A (Solicitor General) is the second law officer; Option C (Law Minister) is a political post; Option D (Chief Justice) heads judiciary, not the law-officer team — only AG is the first law officer.

Correct Answer: D. 6 years

• ** member tenure = 6 years (or age 65)** = A member of the Union Public Service Commission holds office for 6 years from the date he assumes office or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier. • **No re-appointment to same post** — A member, after completing his term, is ineligible for re-appointment to the same post; this bars seeking favour by staying in office. • 💡 Option A (4 years) is incorrect; Option B (3 years) is incorrect; Option C (5 years) is the Finance Commission term — only 6 years is the tenure.

Correct Answer: B. 62 years

• **SPSC retirement age = 62 years** = The retirement age for members of a State Public Service Commission is 62 years, or 6 years of tenure, whichever is earlier. • **41st Amendment, 1976 increase** — The age was raised from 60 to 62 years by the 41st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976; continues at the higher 65-year cap. • 💡 Option A (58 years) is incorrect; Option C (60 years) was the pre-1976 age; Option D (65 years) applies to — only 62 years is correct for SPSC.

Correct Answer: C. Article 279A

• **Article 279A = establishment of GST Council** = Article 279A provides for the establishment of the Goods and Services Tax Council by the President. • **101st Amendment, 2016** — Art.279A was inserted by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016; the Council decides rates, exemptions, thresholds, and model GST laws. • 💡 Option A (Article 269A) is levy and collection of IGST on inter-state trade; Option B (Article 270) is distribution of taxes; Option D (Article 280) is Finance Commission — only 279A is the GST Council.

Correct Answer: A. President

• **President removes SPSC Chairman — after SC inquiry** = Only the President of India has the power to remove the Chairman or a member of a State Public Service Commission, and only after a Supreme Court inquiry. • **Governor appoints but cannot remove** — While Art.316 lets the Governor appoint SPSC members, removal is reserved for the President under Art.317 to insulate SPSC from state politics. • 💡 Option B (Governor) appoints only, cannot remove; Option C (High Court) plays no role in removal; Option D (Parliament) has no removal power over SPSC — only the President removes.

Correct Answer: A. Article 243K

• **Article 243K = State Election Commission (Panchayats)** = Article 243K deals with elections to Panchayats and vests superintendence, direction and control in the State Election Commission. • **Art.243ZA for Municipalities** — A mirror provision, Article 243ZA, empowers the SEC to similarly conduct elections to Municipalities; both were added by the 73rd and 74th Amendments, 1992. • 💡 Option B (Article 243I) deals with State Finance Commission; Option C (Article 280) is Central Finance Commission; Option D (Article 324) covers ECI — only 243K is SEC for Panchayats.

Correct Answer: A. Comptroller and Auditor General

• **Article 149 = duties and powers of the CAG** = Article 149 deals with the duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. • **CAG Act, 1971** — Parliament prescribes the CAG's duties and powers; the CAG (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971 lays down the details. • 💡 Option B (Election Commission) = Art.324; Option C (President) = Art.52; Option D (Attorney General) = Art.76 — only 149 is CAG's duties and powers.

Correct Answer: A. President on the recommendation of Supreme Court

• ** Chairman removed by President on SC recommendation** = The Chairman (and members) can be removed by the President only on the ground of misbehaviour, after an inquiry by the Supreme Court under Article 317. • **Binding SC advice** — The Supreme Court's advice after inquiry is binding on the President; this two-step safeguard ensures independence from executive interference. • 💡 Option B (Parliament by impeachment) is for CAG or SC judges, not Option C (Prime Minister) has no removal power; Option D (President on his own) is wrong — SC inquiry is mandatory.