Consider the following statements about the powers and duties of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India : 1. He audits and reports on all expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India. 2. He controls the issue and receipt of money from the Consolidated Fund of India. 3. He audits and reports on the expenditure of all bodies substantially financed from the Union or State revenues. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, 1 and 3 only. The CAG audits spending from the Consolidated Fund and of bodies substantially financed by government, but has no control over the release of money from the fund.
Under Article 148 the CAG is appointed by the President. Articles 149 to 151 and the CAG (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971 set out the duties: auditing all expenditure from the Consolidated Funds of the Union and the states, the Contingency Funds and Public Accounts, and the accounts of bodies and authorities substantially financed from Union or state revenues. The CAG's reports on Union accounts go to the President, who lays them before Parliament, where the Public Accounts Committee examines them. Dr B. R. Ambedkar called the CAG the most important officer under the Constitution.
A is wrong: it includes statement 2, which is false.
B is wrong: it includes statement 2 and leaves out the true statement 1.
D is wrong: in India the CAG is only an auditor; unlike the British Comptroller, he does not control the issue of money.
Exam tip: CAG — Article 148, auditor not comptroller, reports to President, examined by the PAC.
Practice Questions
View allWith reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation ?
- A.Committee on Government Assurances
- B.Committee on Subordinate Legislation
- C.Rules Committee
- D.Business Advisory Committee
Show answer
This committee checks whether the rules, regulations and by-laws made by the executive under delegated powers stay within the limits Parliament set.
Read the full explanation →With reference to Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, consider the following statements : 1. As per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the election of Deputy Speaker shall be held on such date as the Speaker may fix.
2. There is a mandatory provision that the election of a candidate as Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha shall be from either the principal opposition party or the ruling party.
3. The Deputy Speaker has the same power as of the Speaker when presiding over the sitting of the House and no appeal lies against his rulings.
4. The well established parliamentary practice regarding the appointment of Deputy Speaker is that the motion is moved by the Speaker and duly seconded by the Prime Minister. Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- A.1 and 3 only
- B.1, 2 and 3
- C.3 and 4 only
- D.2 and 4 only
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The Speaker fixes the date of the Deputy Speaker's election, and a presiding Deputy Speaker has the full powers of the Speaker; statements 2 and 4 describe rules that do not exist.
Read the full explanation →With reference to the writs issued by the Courts in India, consider the following statements :
1. Mandamus will not lie against a private organisation unless it is entrusted with a public duty.
2. Mandamus will not lie against a Company even though it may be a Government Company.
3. Any public minded person can be a petitioner to move the Court to obtain the writ of Quo Warranto.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Mandamus reaches anyone who owes a public duty, including government companies, and quo warranto can be sought by any interested person, not only the aggrieved one.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is not a function of the Constitution of India ?
- A.To ensure participation of good people in politics
- B.To guarantee a set of rights to citizens
- C.To define the power of the different organs of government
- D.To create conditions for a just society
Show answer
A constitution can set rules and limits, but it cannot guarantee that good people will enter politics. A constitution is the basic set of rules by which a country is governed.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is not a part of Fundamental Rights ?
- A.Right to education
- B.Right to establish educational institutions by minorities
- C.Right to be conferred with titles
- D.Right against untouchability
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The Constitution does the opposite: Article 18 abolishes titles, so receiving a title is not a Fundamental Right. Article 18 forbids the State from conferring any title other than a military or academic distinction, and bars citizens from accepting a title from a foreign State.
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