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Difficulty: HardConstitutional Bodies: Election Commission, UPSC, SPSC, CAG, and Finance Commission

Regarding the constitutional safeguards ensuring the independence of key constitutional authorities in India, which of the following provisions correctly applies to BOTH the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)?

  1. They become completely ineligible for any further employment under the Government of India or the Government of any State after ceasing to hold their respective offices.Answer
  2. B
    They can be removed from office by the President only on the grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity in the same manner as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  3. C
    Their conditions of service and salaries are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India and are subject to an annual voting process by Parliament.
  4. D
    Their terms of office, salaries, and retirement ages are explicitly detailed under the original text of Schedule II of the Constitution of India.

Answer

Both the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) are completely ineligible for any further employment under the Government of India or any State Government after demitting office.
To maintain absolute independence from executive influence, both Article 148(4) (for the CAG) and Article 319(a) (for the Chairman of the UPSC) stipulate that upon relinquishing their respective positions, these officials are entirely disqualified from holding any subsequent office or employment under the Union or State governments.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze post-retirement restrictions for CAG and UPSC Chairman.
Under Article 148(4), the CAG is barred from further office under the GoI or State Governments. Under Article 319(a), the Chairman of the UPSC is similarly barred from further employment under the GoI or State Governments.
This guarantees independence from executive influence or future political inducements.
2
Evaluate removal procedures for both authorities.
The CAG is removed via Parliamentary address identical to a Supreme Court Judge (Article 148(1)). The UPSC Chairman is removed by the President following a Supreme Court inquiry under Article 317(1).
The removal grounds and parliamentary mechanics differ between the two positions.
3
Verify financial autonomy and voting mechanisms.
Salaries and administrative expenses for both offices are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India (Articles 148(6) and 322), which means they are non-votable.
Charged expenditures do not require annual parliamentary votes.

Key Concept

Independence guarantees and post-tenure restrictions of Indian Constitutional Bodies
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Topics

Constitutional Bodies: Election Commission, UPSC, SPSC, CAG, and Finance Commission

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