CAG, Attorney General & Advocate General
Three constitutional officers who serve as watchdogs of public finance and legal advisors to government. The CAG is the guardian of the public purse; the Attorney General is India's chief law officer; the Advocate General performs the same role for state governments. These officers — established under Arts 148–151, 76, and 165 — are essential GS-II topics appearing regularly in both Prelims and Mains.
On this page
- Conceptual Clarity
- CAG — Arts 148–151
- CAG Functions & CAG Act 1971
- Types of Audit
- CAG Independence Safeguards
- Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
- CAG Audit Flow Diagram
- Attorney General — Art. 76
- Advocate General — Art. 165
- Comparison Table: CAG vs AG vs AG(State)
- Three Officers Diagram
- CAG Independence Pillars Diagram
- Prelims PYQs
- Mains PYQs
- Revision Box — UPSC Traps
Conceptual Clarity — Three Constitutional Law/Finance Officers
The Constitution establishes three critical officers for oversight and legal advice. They differ sharply in their nature: the CAG is an independent auditor with security of tenure (like an SC judge), while the Attorney General and Advocate General are legal advisors who hold office at the pleasure of the President/Governor respectively and can practice privately.
- Dr BR Ambedkar described the CAG as the "most important officer in the Constitution" — because he ensures public money is spent as Parliament authorised.
- The AG is India's first law officer — but NOT a full-time government servant; can appear for private parties (subject to restrictions).
- The Advocate General mirrors the AG at the state level — appointed by the Governor with HC judge qualification.
1. CAG — Arts 148–151
1.1 Art. 148 — Appointment and Service Conditions
- Appointment: CAG is appointed by the President of India by warrant under his hand and seal.
- Removal: Removed in the same manner as a Supreme Court judge — by an address from both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha) passed by a special majority (majority of total membership + 2/3rd majority of members present and voting) on grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
- No further office: After retirement, the CAG is NOT eligible for further office under the Government of India or any State Government. This is a critical independence safeguard.
- Salary: Charged to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) — not subject to Parliamentary vote, ensuring independence.
- Staff salaries: The salaries and service conditions of persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are determined by the President (not by the CAG himself).
- Administrative expenses of the CAG's office (including salaries) are charged to the CFI.
1.2 Art. 149 — Duties and Powers
- The CAG shall perform such duties and exercise such powers in relation to the accounts of the Union and of the States and of any other authority or body as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament.
- The governing statute is the CAG (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971.
- Until such law is made, the CAG discharges functions assigned by the President by rules.
1.3 Art. 150 — Form of Accounts
- The accounts of the Union and of the States shall be kept in such form as the President may, on the advice of the CAG, prescribe.
- This gives the CAG a critical advisory role in determining the structure of government accounts.
1.4 Art. 151 — Audit Reports
- Union accounts: CAG's audit report relating to the Union → submitted to the President → President lays it before each House of Parliament.
- State accounts: CAG's audit report relating to a State → submitted to the Governor of that State → Governor lays it before the State Legislature.
1.5 Key Articles Summary
| Article | Subject | Key Provision |
|---|---|---|
| Art. 148 | Appointment & Service | Appointed by President; removed like SC judge; salary charged to CFI; no post-retirement govt job |
| Art. 149 | Duties & Powers | Prescribed by Parliament → CAG Act 1971 |
| Art. 150 | Form of Accounts | Accounts kept in form prescribed by President on CAG's advice |
| Art. 151 | Audit Reports | Union → President → Parliament; State → Governor → State Legislature |
2. CAG Functions — CAG Act 1971
The CAG (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971 is the statutory framework that operationalises Art. 149. Under this Act, the CAG performs the following functions:
2.1 Audit Functions
- Audit of all receipts and expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, Consolidated Fund of each State, and Consolidated Fund of each Union Territory having a legislature.
- Audit of Contingency Fund and Public Account transactions of the Union and States.
- Audit of all trading, manufacturing, profit and loss accounts and balance sheets maintained by government departments.
- Audit of receipts and expenditure of bodies and authorities substantially financed by grants or loans from Union or State governments.
- Audit of government companies under the Companies Act (in conjunction with statutory auditors).
- Audit of accounts of international organisations when requested.
2.2 Accounts Functions
- Responsible for compiling and maintaining accounts of State Governments (though this function has been largely transferred to the Accountants General in states under Art. 150).
- Advises the President and Governors on accounting matters and the form in which accounts are to be kept.
- Ascertains and certifies the net proceeds of any tax or duty — his certificate is final and binding on the Union and State governments (relevant for Centre-State financial relations).
2.3 Advisory Function
- Acts as a guide, friend and philosopher to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Estimates Committee of Parliament.
- Assists PAC in examining audit reports and understanding the financial operations of government.
3. Types of Audit Conducted by CAG
Regularity / Propriety Audit
Checks whether money has been spent as authorised by competent authority and in accordance with the rules and regulations. Also examines whether expenditure is in conformity with the canons of financial propriety (i.e., not wasteful or improper even if technically authorised).
Performance / Efficiency Audit
Examines whether government programmes and activities are achieving their objectives with minimum resources — value for money audit. Covers the 3Es: Economy (minimum cost), Efficiency (output per unit), Effectiveness (achievement of objectives).
Compliance Audit
Checks whether the applicable rules, procedures, laws and regulations have been followed by the audited entity. Identifies deviations from prescribed norms and irregularities in financial management.
Financial / Attestation Audit
Provides assurance that the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position and results of operations. Examines reliability and integrity of financial information reported by the government.
| Audit Type | Core Question | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Regularity/Propriety | Was the money spent as authorised? | Authority, rules, financial propriety |
| Performance/Efficiency | Was value for money obtained? | Economy, efficiency, effectiveness (3Es) |
| Compliance | Were rules and procedures followed? | Adherence to laws and regulations |
| Financial/Attestation | Do accounts give a true and fair view? | Accuracy, reliability of financial statements |
4. Independence of CAG — Safeguards
The Constitution provides four key safeguards to ensure the CAG's independence from the executive:
4.1 Security of Tenure
- Cannot be removed by the President arbitrarily — removal requires a special majority address by both Houses of Parliament (same procedure as SC judges).
- This protects the CAG from executive pressure to give favourable audit reports.
- CAG holds office until the age of 65 years or for a term of 6 years, whichever is earlier (under CAG Act 1971).
4.2 Charged Expenditure
- The CAG's salary and administrative expenses are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India — not voted upon by Parliament.
- This means Parliament cannot threaten to reduce the CAG's salary as a means of pressure.
4.3 No Post-Retirement Government Employment
- After retirement, the CAG is ineligible for any office under the Government of India or any State Government.
- This prevents the CAG from being lenient in audit to earn a post-retirement reward from the government.
- This is a stricter bar than that applicable to the Attorney General, who has no such restriction.
4.4 Oath of Office
- The CAG takes an oath to uphold the Constitution and to discharge duties without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.
- This moral/constitutional obligation reinforces functional independence.
5. Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
5.1 Nature and Composition
- The PAC is a Parliamentary Standing Committee that examines the CAG's audit reports.
- Composition: 22 members — 15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha.
- Members are elected by Parliament every year by the method of proportional representation by single transferable vote.
- Ministers cannot be members of the PAC.
5.2 Chairperson — Convention
- By convention since 1967, the PAC is chaired by a member of the Leader of Opposition party (usually the Leader of Opposition himself/herself or a senior member of the principal opposition party in Lok Sabha).
- This convention reinforces the PAC's independence from the ruling government.
- This is a convention — not a constitutional or statutory requirement.
5.3 Functions
- Examines the CAG's audit reports on the accounts of the Union.
- Examines whether money was spent for the purposes Parliament granted it.
- Examines whether expenditure was authorised within the grants voted.
- Calls government officials (Secretaries/Heads of Department) to explain financial irregularities.
- Submits reports with recommendations to Parliament.
5.4 Limitations of PAC
- Post-facto scrutiny only: PAC examines accounts after the money has been spent — it cannot prevent expenditure in real time.
- Cannot question the policy itself — only the implementation and regularity of expenditure.
- Recommendations are not binding — the government may accept or reject them.
- Huge backlog of audit reports — PAC often examines reports several years after the financial year in question.
- Technical nature of accounts means most MPs are not equipped to scrutinise effectively without CAG's assistance.
6. CAG Audit Flow — Diagram
7. Attorney General of India — Art. 76
7.1 Art. 76(1) — Appointment and Qualifications
- The President appoints a person who is qualified to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court as the Attorney General of India.
- Qualification = SC judge qualification: must be a citizen of India; must have been a judge of a High Court for 5 years OR an advocate of a High Court for 10 years OR an eminent jurist in the opinion of the President.
- The AG is the first law officer of the Government of India.
7.2 Art. 76(2) — Duties
- Give advice to the Government of India upon such legal matters as are referred to him by the President.
- Perform such other duties of a legal character as are assigned to him by the President.
- Discharge functions conferred on him by or under the Constitution or any other law.
7.3 Art. 76(3) — Right of Audience
- The AG has the right of audience in all courts throughout the territory of India — not just the Supreme Court.
- This is a wider right than that of a regular advocate and enables the AG to represent the Union government in any court in India.
7.4 Art. 76(4) — Tenure
- The AG holds office during the pleasure of the President — there is NO fixed tenure.
- In practice, when a new government comes to power, the AG typically resigns and is replaced.
- Contrast with the CAG: the CAG has security of tenure (removed only by special majority address of Parliament).
7.5 Remuneration
- Remuneration is determined by the President.
- The AG's emoluments are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India — NOT voted by Parliament.
7.6 Key Features and Restrictions
- Not a full-time government servant: The AG can engage in private legal practice — he is essentially a retainer of the government, not an employee.
- Cannot advise against GoI: May not advise or hold briefs against the Government of India.
- Cannot defend accused in criminal cases without prior permission of the Government of India.
- Cannot take up arbitration against the Government of India.
- Right to speak and take part in proceedings of Parliament (both Houses and joint sittings) — but cannot vote (Art. 76 read with Art. 88).
- Entitled to all privileges and immunities of a member of Parliament.
7.7 Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor Generals
- The Solicitor General of India and the Additional Solicitor Generals assist the AG.
- These are not constitutional posts — they are statutory/executive posts, not mentioned in the Constitution.
- The AG, Solicitor General, and Additional Solicitor Generals together form the law officers of the Union.
8. Advocate General of State — Art. 165
8.1 Constitutional Provision
- Art. 165 provides that the Governor of each State shall appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed as a judge of a High Court to be Advocate General of the State.
- Qualification = HC judge qualification: must be a citizen of India; must have been an advocate of a High Court for 10 years. (Contrast: AG's qualification = SC judge qualification.)
8.2 Duties
- Give advice to the State Government upon such legal matters as are referred to him by the Governor.
- Perform such other duties of a legal character as are assigned to him by the Governor.
- Discharge functions conferred by or under the Constitution or any law.
8.3 Tenure
- Holds office during the pleasure of the Governor — no fixed tenure.
- Resigns when a new state government is formed (convention, not constitutional requirement).
8.4 Rights and Features
- Right of audience in all courts in the State (not all courts in India — limited compared to AG's pan-India right).
- Right to speak and participate in proceedings of the State Legislature (both Houses, if bicameral) — but cannot vote.
- Entitled to privileges and immunities of a member of State Legislature.
- Remuneration as determined by the Governor.
- Like the AG, the Advocate General is not a full-time government servant — can engage in private practice (subject to similar restrictions).
9. Comparison: CAG vs Attorney General vs Advocate General
| Parameter | CAG | Attorney General (AG) | Advocate General (State) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Article | Arts 148–151 | Art. 76 | Art. 165 |
| Appointing Authority | President of India | President of India | Governor of the State |
| Qualifications | No specific qualification prescribed in Constitution (but by convention, senior civil servant/accountant) | Qualified to be a Supreme Court judge (citizen; HC judge 5 yr or HC advocate 10 yr or eminent jurist) | Qualified to be a High Court judge (citizen; HC advocate 10 yr) |
| Tenure | Until age 65 or 6 years (whichever earlier); security of tenure — removed only by special majority address of Parliament (like SC judge) | Holds office at President's pleasure — no fixed tenure | Holds office at Governor's pleasure — no fixed tenure |
| Salary Source | Charged to Consolidated Fund of India (not voted) | Charged to Consolidated Fund of India (not voted) | Determined by Governor (charged to State Consolidated Fund) |
| Private Practice | No — full-time constitutional functionary; cannot practice privately | Yes — can practice privately (not a full-time govt servant); subject to restrictions (cannot act against GoI) | Yes — can practice privately; subject to restrictions (cannot act against State Govt) |
| Jurisdiction / Audience | N/A (auditor, not advocate) | Right of audience in ALL courts throughout India | Right of audience in all courts in the State only |
| Post-retirement bar | Cannot hold any office under Union or State Govt after retirement | No such bar — can return to private practice fully | No such bar — can return to private practice fully |
| Role in Legislature | Reports go via President to Parliament; assists PAC indirectly | Can speak and participate in both Houses of Parliament (not vote) | Can speak and participate in State Legislature (not vote) |
| Nature of Post | Independent constitutional auditor | Legal advisor to Union Govt; first law officer | Legal advisor to State Govt; first law officer of state |
10. Three Constitutional Officers — Diagram
11. CAG Independence — Four Pillars Diagram
12. Prelims PYQs
With reference to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, which of the following statements is correct?
(A) The salary of the CAG is voted in Parliament.
(B) The salary of the CAG is charged to the Consolidated Fund of India.
(C) The CAG can hold office after retirement as an advisor to the President.
(D) The CAG is appointed for a fixed term of 5 years.
Answer: (B) — The CAG's salary is charged to the Consolidated Fund of India (Art. 148(6)) and not voted by Parliament. Option (C) is wrong because CAG cannot hold any further office under GoI or State after retirement. Option (D) is wrong — term is 6 years or age 65, whichever is earlier.
Under Article 151 of the Constitution, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General relating to the accounts of the Union is submitted to:
(A) The Speaker of Lok Sabha (B) The Prime Minister
(C) The President of India (D) The Parliament directly
Answer: (C) The President of India — The CAG submits the Union accounts report to the President, who then lays it before each House of Parliament. It does NOT go directly to Parliament or the Speaker.
To be appointed as the Attorney General of India, a person must be qualified to be appointed as a judge of the:
(A) High Court (B) Supreme Court
(C) District Court (D) Any court in India
Answer: (B) Supreme Court — Art. 76(1) requires the AG to be a person qualified to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, which requires citizenship and 10 years as HC advocate or 5 years as HC judge or being an eminent jurist.
The Attorney General of India holds office:
(A) For a fixed term of 5 years
(B) Until the age of 65 years
(C) During the pleasure of the President
(D) During the pleasure of the Prime Minister
Answer: (C) During the pleasure of the President — Art. 76(4) states that the AG holds office during the pleasure of the President. Unlike the CAG, there is no fixed tenure. The President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, so in practice the AG changes with the government.
Which of the following types of audit examines whether government programmes and activities achieve their objectives with minimum resources (value for money)?
(A) Compliance Audit (B) Financial Audit
(C) Performance/Efficiency Audit (D) Propriety Audit
Answer: (C) Performance/Efficiency Audit — Performance audit covers the 3 Es: Economy (minimum cost), Efficiency (output per unit of input), and Effectiveness (achieving stated objectives). It is often called the "value for money" audit.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament is chaired by:
(A) The Finance Minister
(B) The Speaker of Lok Sabha
(C) A member from the ruling party
(D) A member from the principal opposition party
Answer: (D) — By convention since 1967, the PAC is chaired by a member of the principal opposition party (usually the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha). This is a convention, not a statutory requirement, to ensure independent scrutiny of government accounts.
The Advocate General of a State is appointed by the:
(A) President of India (B) Chief Justice of the High Court
(C) Governor of the State (D) Chief Minister of the State
Answer: (C) Governor of the State — Art. 165(1) provides that the Governor of each State shall appoint a person qualified to be a High Court judge as the Advocate General. The Advocate General holds office during the pleasure of the Governor (Art. 165(2)).
With reference to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, consider the following statements:
1. The CAG is appointed by the President of India.
2. The CAG can be removed from office only in the same manner as a judge of the Supreme Court.
3. The CAG is not eligible for further office under the Government of India or any State Government after ceasing to hold office.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: All three statements are correct. Statement 1 — Art. 148(1): CAG is appointed by the President. Statement 2 — Art. 148(1): removal requires an address by each House of Parliament passed by special majority, same as SC judge removal. Statement 3 — Art. 148(4): expressly bars CAG from any further office under GoI or any state government after retirement, the most stringent post-retirement bar among constitutional office holders.
13. Mains PYQs
"CAG is described as the guardian of the public purse." Examine its role and limitations. (250 words)
Answer Framework: Introduction — Dr Ambedkar called CAG most important officer; constitutional basis (Arts 148–151); CAG Act 1971.
Role: (1) Audit of all Union and State receipts/expenditure from Consolidated Fund; (2) Audit of government companies, bodies receiving substantial grants; (3) Advises President/Governor on accounts form (Art. 150); (4) Certifies net proceeds of taxes (Centre-State fiscal relations); (5) Types of audit — regularity, performance, compliance, financial; (6) Assists PAC as "philosopher and guide"; (7) Independence through charged salary, security of tenure, no post-retirement govt job.
Limitations: (1) Post-facto scrutiny only — cannot prevent spending, only report after the fact; (2) CAG reports are not self-executing — government may ignore recommendations; (3) Huge backlog in examination; (4) No power to recover or surcharge (unlike UK); (5) Staff determined by President — some dependence on executive; (6) PAC's own limitations (political dynamics, backlog, non-binding nature of recommendations); (7) Audit of PPPs and autonomous bodies is limited by legal provisions.
Conclusion: Despite limitations, CAG remains essential to financial accountability in parliamentary democracy — the "eyes and ears" of Parliament on public finance.
"Discuss the independence of the CAG and its significance in parliamentary democracy." (250 words)
Answer Framework: Introduction — CAG as constitutional auditor; why independence matters for democracy.
Independence Safeguards: (1) Security of tenure — removal only by special majority address of both Houses (like SC judge); prevents arbitrary dismissal; (2) Charged expenditure — salary on CFI, not voted by Parliament; Parliament cannot threaten budget cuts; (3) No post-retirement govt employment (Art. 148(4)) — most stringent bar; prevents "soft auditing" to earn a reward; (4) Oath of office — without fear or favour; (5) Constitutionally defined duties — Parliament cannot casually reduce powers.
Significance in Parliamentary Democracy: (1) Parliament votes supply but cannot directly verify spending — CAG bridges this gap; (2) Financial accountability — checks executive use of public funds against parliamentary appropriations; (3) Transparency — CAG reports are public documents; (4) Feeds PAC — which calls bureaucrats to account; (5) Deters corruption and financial irregularity through credible audit threat; (6) Centre-State fiscal relations — certifies tax proceeds (Art. 279).
Challenges: Growing complexity of PPPs, off-budget financing, autonomous bodies; CAG jurisdiction over these is contested; delay between audit and reporting; need to modernise audit techniques.
"What is the role of the Public Accounts Committee in ensuring financial accountability? How does it relate to the CAG?" (250 words)
Answer Framework: Introduction — PAC as Parliament's watchdog on executive spending; post-facto but essential mechanism.
PAC Role: (1) Examines CAG reports after they are laid before Parliament; (2) Questions government officials (Secretaries) about financial irregularities; (3) Examines whether money was spent for Parliament-intended purposes and within sanctioned grants; (4) Submits recommendations to Parliament; (5) Chaired by opposition (convention since 1967) — ensures political independence.
CAG-PAC Relationship: (1) CAG is the "eyes of Parliament" — PAC acts on what CAG sees; (2) CAG officers assist PAC in understanding technical audit findings; (3) Without CAG's independent audit, PAC would have no basis for scrutiny; (4) The two together form a complete cycle: Parliament authorises (budget) → executive spends → CAG audits → PAC scrutinises → recommendations → government responds → Parliament informed.
Limitations of PAC: (1) Post-facto only — cannot prevent irregular spending; (2) Recommendations non-binding — government can reject; (3) Enormous backlog of reports; (4) Members lack financial/technical expertise; (5) PAC cannot examine policy decisions — only their implementation; (6) Reports often years old by the time examined.
Way Forward: Real-time audit capabilities; strengthening PAC secretariat; expanding scrutiny to PPPs; making recommendations binding in certain cases.
"Distinguish between the roles of the Attorney General and the Advocate General, highlighting their constitutional basis and limitations." (250 words)
Answer Framework: Introduction — both are first law officers but at different levels; both Art. 76 and Art. 165 are in Part V and Part VI respectively.
Constitutional Basis: AG — Art. 76 (Part V, Union Executive); Advocate General — Art. 165 (Part VI, State Executive). Both are constitutional posts, not statutory.
Key Distinctions: (1) Qualification — AG: SC judge standard (Art. 76(1)); Advocate General: HC judge standard (Art. 165(1)); (2) Appointing authority — AG: President; Advocate General: Governor; (3) Audience rights — AG: all courts throughout India (Art. 76(3)); Advocate General: all courts in the State only; (4) Tenure — both hold office at pleasure of President/Governor respectively; no fixed tenure; (5) Legislature participation — AG can speak in both Houses of Parliament (not vote); Advocate General can speak in State Legislature (not vote); (6) Salary — both not voted but determined by President/Governor.
Common Features: Both can practice privately (not full-time govt servants); both cannot act against their respective government; both hold pleasure-based tenure; both entitled to parliamentary/legislative privileges.
Limitations: (1) No security of tenure — vulnerable to political changes; (2) Dual role (private practice + government advisor) creates potential conflicts; (3) Cannot advise against government — limits independence; (4) Pleasure-basis tenure can compromise frank legal advice; (5) AG's non-voting status in Parliament limits accountability.
14. Revision Box — 4 UPSC Traps
Must-Remember — CAG, AG & Advocate General
- Art. 148 — CAG: appointment, removal (SC judge mode), salary (CFI), no post-retirement job
- Art. 149 — CAG duties/powers: prescribed by Parliament → CAG Act 1971
- Art. 150 — Form of accounts: President's prescription on CAG's advice
- Art. 151 — CAG reports: Union → President → Parliament; State → Governor → State Legislature
- Art. 76 — AG: President appoints, SC judge qualification, pleasure basis, pan-India audience
- Art. 165 — Advocate General: Governor appoints, HC judge qualification, pleasure basis, state-level audience
- Security of tenure (removal = SC judge process)
- Charged expenditure (salary on CFI)
- No post-retirement govt employment
- Oath of office (without fear or favour)
- CAG — cannot practice privately; AG and Advocate General — CAN practice privately
- CAG has security of tenure; AG and Advocate General hold office at pleasure
- AG qualification = SC judge standard; Advocate General = HC judge standard
- AG: pan-India audience; Advocate General: state-level audience only
- PAC chaired by opposition (convention since 1967) — NOT a statutory requirement
- Regularity/Propriety — spent as authorised?
- Performance/Efficiency — value for money? (3Es)
- Compliance — rules followed?
- Financial/Attestation — true and fair view?
- 22 members (15 LS + 7 RS)
- Post-facto scrutiny only
- Recommendations non-binding
- CAG salary vs Staff salary: CAG's OWN salary is charged to CFI — but the salaries of persons serving in the Audit & Accounts Department are determined by the President (not by the CAG). Two separate provisions frequently confused in MCQs.
- AG tenure: AG holds office at the President's PLEASURE — there is NO fixed tenure. Do not confuse with CAG who has full security of tenure and can only be removed by special majority address of Parliament.
- CAG reports flow: CAG reports do NOT go directly to Parliament. Union accounts → to President → then laid before Parliament. State accounts → to Governor → then laid before State Legislature. Never say CAG submits "directly to Parliament."
- AG can practice privately: The AG is NOT a full-time government servant. He can take up private cases (subject to restrictions — cannot act against GoI, cannot defend accused without permission). The Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor Generals are also NOT constitutional posts — only the AG is mentioned in the Constitution.