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Key Constitutional Bodies (Part V, X, XIV, XVII) ​

📊 High-Yield Data & Statistical Fact Sheet
  • Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG - Articles 148 to 151):
    • Designated as the "Guardian of the Public Purse" and head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
    • Tenure: 6 years or up to 65 years of age (whichever is earlier).
    • Removal standard: Identical to a Supreme Court Judge (proved misbehaviour/incapacity, requiring a special majority).
    • Expenses: Charged on the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI - non-votable).
  • Attorney General (AG) & Advocate General Qualifications & Tenure:
    • AG (Article 76): Must be qualified to be appointed as a Supreme Court Judge (5 years as HC Judge or 10 years as HC Advocate). Serves during the pleasure of the President.
    • Advocate General (Article 165): Must be qualified to be appointed as a High Court Judge (10 years judicial office or 10 years as HC Advocate). Serves during the pleasure of the Governor.
  • Social Justice Commissions (NCSC / NCST / NCBC):
    • NCSC (Article 338): National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
    • NCST (Article 338A): National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (carved out by the 89th CAA, 2003).
    • NCBC (Article 338B): National Commission for Backward Classes (given constitutional status by the 102nd CAA, 2018).
    • Composition: 1 Chairman + 1 Vice-Chairman + 3 Members (at least one must be a woman), appointed by the President for a 3-year term.
  • Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities (Article 350B):
    • Created by the 7th CAA, 1956 on the recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission.
    • Status: Appointed by the President; operates under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, headquartered at Prayagraj (Allahabad).

1. COMPTROLLER & AUDITOR GENERAL (CAG - ARTICLE 148–151) ​

COMPTROLLER & AUDITOR GENERAL (CAG - ARTICLE 148–151) ​

COMPTROLLER & AUDITOR GENERAL (CAG - ARTICLE 148–151)
Analyze key facts and concepts related to COMPTROLLER & AUDITOR GENERAL (CAG - ARTICLE 148–151).
- Audit Independence: The CAG is insulated from political influence: - Appointed by the President by warrant under hand and seal. - Barred from any further office under the Union or State Governments after retirement. - Audit Domain (Article 149): Audits all receipts and expenditures of the Consolidated Fund of India, the Consolidated Funds of the States, and each Union Territory with a legislative assembly. Also audits all contingency funds and public accounts. - The Audit Reports (Article 151): The CAG submits three reports to the President (Audit Report on Appropriation Accounts, Audit Report on Finance Accounts, and Audit Report on Public Undertakings). The President tables these in Parliament. They are subsequent examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), with the CAG acting as the "Friend, Philosopher, and Guide" of the PAC.

2. COMPARATIVE LEGAL OFFICE: ATTORNEY GENERAL VS. ADVOCATE GENERAL ​

COMPARATIVE LEGAL OFFICE: ATTORNEY GENERAL VS. ADVOCATE GENERAL
Analyze key facts and concepts related to COMPARATIVE LEGAL OFFICE: ATTORNEY GENERAL VS. ADVOCATE GENERAL.
- The Executive Duality:

| Legal Officer Parameter | Attorney General of India (Article 76) | Advocate General of the State (Article 165) |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Constitutional Standing | Chief Legal Advisor to the Government of India. | Chief Legal Advisor to the State Government. |

| Appointment Authority | Appointed by the President of India. | Appointed by the State Governor. |

| Tenure of Office | Serves during the pleasure of the President (no fixed term; conventionally resigns when the Cabinet falls). | Serves during the pleasure of the Governor (no fixed term; conventionally resigns when the State Cabinet falls). |

| Audience Rights | Right of audience in all courts in the territory of India. | Right of audience in all courts within the State. |

| Legislative Privileges | Article 88: Right to speak and take part in proceedings of both Houses of Parliament/Committees without a right to vote. | Article 177: Right to speak and take part in proceedings of the State Legislature without a right to vote. |


3. SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSIONS (ARTICLE 338, 338A, & 338B) ​

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSIONS (ARTICLE 338, 338A, & 338B) ​

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSIONS (ARTICLE 338, 338A, & 338B)
Analyze key facts and concepts related to SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSIONS (ARTICLE 338, 338A, & 338B).
- Constitutional Ambits:
```text [102nd CAA, 2018] ──► NCBC Constitutional (Article 338B) │ [89th CAA, 2003] ──► Split into NCSC (Art 338) & NCST (Art 338A) │ [65th CAA, 1990] ──► Created unified statutory Commission ```
- Investigation Powers: While investigating any matter or inquiry, the three Commissions possess all the powers of a Civil Court trying a suit: - Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from India. - Requiring the discovery and production of any document. - Receiving evidence on affidavits and issuing commissions for examination of witnesses. - Mandatory Consultation Protection: The Union and all State Governments must mandatorily consult the respective Commissions on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and socially and educationally backward classes (Articles 338(9), 338A(9), and 338B(9)).

QUICK REVISION BOX ​

  • Article 76: Nodal office of the Attorney General of India.
  • Article 165: Nodal office of the State Advocate General.
  • Article 148: Establishes the CAG; removed only like an SC Judge.
  • Article 151: CAG reports submitted to the President (tabled in Parliament and analyzed by the PAC).
  • 89th CAA (2003): Carved out the NCST (Article 338A) from the unified SC/ST commission.
  • 102nd CAA (2018): Gave constitutional status to the NCBC (Article 338B).
  • Civil Court status: SC, ST, and OBC Commissions hold civil court powers while investigating grievances.
  • Article 350B: Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities; added by 7th CAA, 1956; based in Prayagraj.
  • No Voting Rights: Both the AG and Advocate General have the right to speak in their respective legislatures but cannot vote.

Notes updated up to March 2026. Sources: Constitutional Provisions, Ministry of Minority Affairs, CAG Audit Codes.

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