“The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has a very vital role to play.” Explain how this is reflected in the method and terms of his appointment as well as the range of powers he can exercise.
Approach · directive: “explain”
What it asks · Show that the CAG's vital role is protected by the way he is appointed, the security of his tenure and service terms, and the wide audit powers he exercises.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Explain how the method and terms of appointment reflect the CAG's vital role: appointment, removal, tenure, service conditions and the bar on later office
- Explain the range of powers the CAG exercises: audit jurisdiction, nature of audit, reporting and impact
Open with · The CAG audits the executive's spending on Parliament's behalf, so the Constitution protects the office's independence in Articles 148 to 151.
Cover
- Appointment: made by the President by warrant under hand and seal (Article 148), with an oath or affirmation before the President.
- Security of tenure: he can be removed only in the manner and on the grounds applicable to a Supreme Court Judge; his term is six years or up to age 65, whichever is earlier.
- Financial independence: salary and service conditions are fixed by law and cannot be varied to his disadvantage; his office's administrative expenses are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
- Bar on later office: he cannot hold any further office under the Union or a State after retiring, which lessens the temptation to please the government.
- Powers: he audits the accounts of the Union and States (Consolidated Fund, Contingency Fund and Public Account), government companies and corporations, and bodies substantially financed by government, checking legality, regularity and propriety.
- Reporting: reports go to the President or Governor and are laid before the legislature (Article 151), then to the Public Accounts Committee; the reports on 2G spectrum and coal allocation show their impact.
- Limits: audit comes after expenditure, findings are advisory, and follow-up by the executive and Parliament is often slow.
Close with · The CAG's security of tenure, financial autonomy and wide audit powers make him guardian of the public purse; the office's impact depends on timely follow-up by Parliament.
Add value (verified)
- Article 148(1) protects the CAG's independence by giving him the same security of removal as a Supreme Court Judge. The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), Article 148(1) — Legislative Department ↗“shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal and shall only be removed from office in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2018, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 225 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
The CAG audits the executive's spending on Parliament's behalf, so Articles 148 to 151 fence the office's independence and give it a wide audit remit, the two halves of its vital role.
Method and terms of appointment
- Appointment: by the President by warrant under his hand and seal (Article 148), after an oath taken before the President.
- Security of tenure: removable only like a Supreme Court Judge, in manner and grounds; term of six years or age 65, whichever is earlier.
- Financial protection: salary and service conditions, fixed by law, cannot be varied to his disadvantage after appointment; the office's administrative expenses are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
- Bar on later office: ineligible for any further office under the Union or a State, removing any temptation to please the government.
Range of powers
- Audit jurisdiction: accounts of the Union and States (Consolidated Fund, Contingency Fund and Public Account), government companies and corporations, and bodies substantially financed by government, testing legality, regularity and propriety.
- Reporting: reports go to the President or Governor, are laid before the legislature (Article 151) and examined by the Public Accounts Committee; the 2G spectrum (2010) and coal-allocation (2012) reports show their impact.
Secure tenure, financial autonomy and a wide audit remit make the CAG the guardian of the public purse; the office's impact rests on timely follow-up by Parliament.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.