Which of the following statements relating to Comptroller and Auditor General in India is/are correct? 1. He/She is not an officer of the Parliament but an officer under the President. 2. He/She is an independent constitutional authority not directly answerable to the House. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The correct answer is Option 1. This distinction lies in the constitutional positioning and the functional accountability of the CAG.

• Statement 1 is correct: Under the Indian Constitution, the CAG is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal (Article 148). Unlike the UK, where the CAG is an officer of the House of Commons, in India, the CAG is an independent constitutional authority appointed by the Executive (the President) but protected by tenure security.
• Statement 2 is incorrect in the context of parliamentary oversight. While the CAG is an independent authority, he/she is directly answerable to the Parliament. The CAG acts as an agent of the Parliament and conducts audits on its behalf. The reports are submitted to the President, who causes them to be laid before both Houses, subsequently forming the basis for the Public Accounts Committee's investigations.

Therefore, while the CAG is not an "officer of the Parliament" by appointment, the claim of not being answerable to the House is constitutionally inaccurate.