UPSC 2018 GS-II · 10 marks · 150 words

‘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.

What “Explain” demands

set out how or why something works, with the mechanism made explicit.

The characteristic failure: stating that it works without showing how.

What a top answer must contain

These are the checkable specifics from the marking standard for this question — the actual case, committee, datum or thinker, not an instruction to “give examples”.

Appointment and security of tenure: Art 148 — appointed by the President, six years or 65, removable only like a Supreme Court judge, salary charged on the Consolidated Fund, barred from further office
Powers: DPC Act 1971 — compliance, financial and performance audit of the Union, states, and bodies substantially financed from public funds
Reports to the President and Governors, laid before the legislature, examined by PAC and COPU — the accountability chain
Landmark audits: 2G spectrum and coal-block allocation as evidence of propriety audit's reach
Limits: audit is post-facto, no power to enforce, PSU and PPP coverage debates

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‘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.

What a top answer must contain

Now write it, and find out what you actually scored

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