MPPSC 2023 Prelims Paper-I · Question 28 of 100

Correct — C, 6 years. Article 148 of the Constitution provides that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) holds office for a term of six years from the date of assuming office, OR until the age of 65 years, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER. So while the maximum formal term is 6 years, an appointee who is already close to 65 at the time of appointment demits office earlier, on hitting that age ceiling.

• (a)4 years — Understates the term fixed by Article 148, which is six years (subject to the age-65 ceiling).
• (b)5 years — Understates the term — a common mix-up with the tenure of other bodies (e.g. Finance Commission cycles), but Article 148 fixes six years for the CAG.
• (d)7 years — Overstates the term — Article 148 fixes a maximum of six years (subject to the age-65 ceiling), not seven.

The CAG's tenure combines a fixed term with an age ceiling — six years from assuming office, or age 65, whichever comes first. His removal process mirrors that of a Supreme Court judge (Article 148(1)): he can be removed only on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge (proved misbehaviour or incapacity), by an order of the President after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a special majority. This procedural insulation exists because the CAG audits the accounts of the very executive that appoints him, so his independence has to be constitutionally protected.

A common trap is to remember only 'six years' and drop the 'or age 65, whichever is earlier' qualifier — several other high constitutional offices (e.g. the Election Commissioners) share this identical '6 years or 65' formula, so precision about which office uses which numbers matters.

• Article 148: the CAG's term is six years from assuming office, or till age 65, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court Judge (Article 148(1)).
• The CAG is appointed by the President and, after ceasing to hold office, is not eligible for further office under the Government of India or any State Government (Article 148(4)).
• The CAG's salary and conditions of service, once determined, cannot be varied to his disadvantage during his term.

• Memorising only 'six years' and forgetting the 'or age 65, whichever earlier' qualifier
• Confusing the CAG's removal process (same as a Supreme Court Judge) with a simpler, direct executive-order removal

MPPSC/UPSC frequently test the exact 'X years or age Y, whichever is earlier' formula for constitutional posts (CAG, Election Commissioners, UPSC Chairman/Members) — know each office's specific numbers.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Besides completing a fixed term, on reaching which age does the Comptroller and Auditor General of India demit office under Article 148?

  • (a)60 years
  • (b)62 years
  • (c)65 years
  • (d)70 years

  Answer(c) 65 years — the CAG's term is six years or age 65, whichever is earlier.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Comptroller and Auditor General of India can be removed from office only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a:

  • (a)Judge of a High Court
  • (b)Judge of the Supreme Court
  • (c)Chief Election Commissioner
  • (d)Member of the UPSC

  Answer(b) Judge of the Supreme Court — Article 148(1) ties the CAG's removal procedure to that of a Supreme Court judge, to secure his independence.