The salary and service conditions of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India are governed by which Schedule of the Constitution of India?
- (a)First Schedule
- (b)Second Schedule
- (c)Third Schedule
- (d)Fourth Schedule
Correct — B, Second Schedule. Article 148(3) of the Constitution provides that the salary and other conditions of service of the CAG shall be as determined by Parliament by law, and, until so determined, as specified in the Second Schedule — the same Schedule that fixes the emoluments of the President, Governors, the Speaker/Deputy Speaker, and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
- (a)First Schedule — The First Schedule lists the names of the States and Union Territories and their territorial extent — unrelated to the CAG's salary.
- (c)Third Schedule — The Third Schedule contains the forms of oaths and affirmations for various constitutional offices, not salary provisions.
- (d)Fourth Schedule — The Fourth Schedule allocates seats in the Rajya Sabha to States and Union Territories, not the CAG's salary.
The Second Schedule of the Constitution is the 'salary schedule' for India's highest constitutional office-holders — the President, Governors, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Speakers of State Legislative Assemblies, and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, along with the CAG. Article 148(3) specifically ties the CAG's own salary and conditions of service to this Schedule (until Parliament legislates otherwise), and further guarantees they cannot be varied to the CAG's disadvantage after appointment.
MPPSC likes 'which Schedule governs X' questions because students often remember the Article (148, for the CAG's appointment/duties) but not which Schedule fixes the salary — the safe fix is to know the Second Schedule as the common 'salary schedule' for top constitutional posts.
- The Second Schedule fixes salaries/allowances of the President, Governors, Speaker/Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, Chairman/Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Speakers of State Assemblies, SC & HC judges, and the CAG
- Article 148(3) is the specific provision tying the CAG's salary and service conditions to the Second Schedule
- The CAG's salary and conditions cannot be varied to their disadvantage after appointment, safeguarding independence
- The CAG's salary is equated with that of a Judge of the Supreme Court
Article 148(3) — the CAG's salary and service conditions follow the Second Schedule.
- Confusing Article 148 (which governs appointment/tenure/removal) with the Second Schedule (which governs salary)
- Mixing up the Second Schedule with the Ninth or Tenth Schedules, which cover unrelated subjects
MPPSC frequently pairs a constitutional post with 'which Article/Schedule governs it' — memorise the CAG cluster: Article 148 (appointment/removal), Article 149 (duties/powers), Second Schedule (salary).
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The salary of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India is equal to that of:
- (a)Chief Election Commissioner
- (b)Judge of the Supreme Court
- (c)Cabinet Secretary
- (d)Chief Justice of India
Answer(b) A Judge of the Supreme Court — as fixed under the Second Schedule read with Article 148(3).
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which Article of the Constitution deals with the duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor General?
- (a)Article 147
- (b)Article 148
- (c)Article 149
- (d)Article 151
Answer(c) Article 149 empowers Parliament to prescribe the CAG's duties and powers relating to the accounts of the Union and the States.