QUESTION 5
GS2
10 marks
“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.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Explain how CAG's appointment terms and powers reflect its vital role.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Appointment: by President (Art. 148), removal like SC judge, six years or 65, salary charged on Consolidated Fund, no further government office≈30 words
- 2Powers: audit of Union and state accounts, PSUs, bodies funded by government; reports to President/Governor, PAC scrutiny≈30 words
- 3Role: 'guardian of public purse'; performance audits (2G, coal)≈30 words
- 4Limits: appointment by executive alone, no audit of secret service expenditure, delayed reports≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Independence through appointmentPowersRole with examplesLimitsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- No examples of audits
- Missing removal procedure
Draw this
- Two columns: independence safeguards / powers
Value addition
- ExampleCAG's 2010 report on 2G spectrum estimated a presumptive loss of ₹1.76 lakh crore.CAG Report No. 19 of 2010
- LawCAG (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971.CAG Act 1971
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 32 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Ritika Chitlangia · Page 10 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Abhishek Singh · Page 9 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.