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Q87 (IAS/2022) Polity & Governance › Union Executive › Attorney General of India Official Key

Consider the following statements: 1. Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India are the only officers of the Government who are allowed to participate in the meetings of the Parliament of India. 2. According to the Constitution of India, the Attorney General of India submits his resignation when the Government which appointed him resigns. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 4 (Neither 1 nor 2) because both statements are factually and constitutionally incorrect.

  • Statement 1 is incorrect: Under Article 88 of the Constitution, only the Attorney General (AG) has the right to speak and participate in Parliamentary proceedings. The Solicitor General (SG) is a statutory post created to assist the AG; the SG does not possess any constitutional right to attend or participate in Parliament meetings. Furthermore, Union Ministers also participate in these meetings, making the word "only" in the statement inaccurate.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: The Constitution does not mandate the AG to resign when the Government falls. Article 76 states that the AG holds office during the pleasure of the President. While it is a well-established convention that the AG resigns when the Council of Ministers is dissolved, it is not a requirement "according to the Constitution of India."

Since neither statement holds true under constitutional provisions, Option 4 is the right choice.

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Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements: 1. Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India are the only officers of the Government w…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Laxmikanth-check' question. It tests your ability to distinguish between explicit Constitutional text and political conventions. It is completely solvable from standard static resources provided you pay attention to the phrase 'According to the Constitution' and the distinction between Constitutional vs. Statutory officers.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Are the Attorney General of India and the Solicitor General of India the only government officers legally permitted to participate in meetings of the Parliament of India?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > 2022 TEST PAPER > p. 763
Strength: 3/5
“2. The law does not provide any time frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct? • (a) I only • (b) 2 only • (e) Both I and 2 • (d) Neither I nor 2 7. Consider the following statements: • 1. Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India are the only officers of the Government who are allowed to participate in the meetings of the Parliament of India. • 2. According to the Constitution of India, the Attorney General of India submits his resignation when the Government which appointed him resigns.”
Why relevant

The snippet quotes the exact claim as a contested statement in a test question, showing this is a known proposition to be evaluated.

How to extend

A student could treat this as a hypothesis and look up constitutional or parliamentary rules (e.g., Article references or Rules of Procedure) to confirm or refute exclusivity.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 53: Attorney General of India > SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA > p. 451
Strength: 4/5
“t SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA In addition to the AG, there are other law officers of the Government of India. They are the solicitor general of India and additional solicitor general of India. They assist the AG in the fulfilment of his/her official responsibilities. It should be noted here that only the office of the AG is created by the Constitution. In other words, Article 76 does not mention about the solicitor general and additional solicitor general. The AG is not a member of the Central cabinet. There is a separate law minister in the Central cabinet to look after legal matters at the government level 3 • 2.”
Why relevant

States that besides the Attorney General there are other law officers (Solicitor General, Additional Solicitor General) who assist the AG, and that only the AG is a constitutional office.

How to extend

A student could infer that some law officers are non-constitutional yet perform legal functions and then check parliamentary practice to see which of these have permission to participate in proceedings.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Rights of Ministers and Attorney General > p. 239
Strength: 5/5
“In addition to the members of a House, every minister and the attorney general of India have the right to speak and take part in the proceedings of either House, any joint sitting of both the Houses and any committee of Parliament of which he/she is a member, without being entitled to vote. There are two reasons underlying this constitutional provision: • I. A minister can participate in the proceedings of a House, of which he/she is not a member. In other words, a minister belonging to the Lok Sabha can par·ticipate in the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha and vice·versa.”
Why relevant

Specifies that every minister and the Attorney General have the right to speak and take part in proceedings of either House (without voting).

How to extend

A student could generalize this rule to ask whether other categories (e.g., other law officers or state officials) are similarly granted speaking rights by constitution, statute, or parliamentary rules.

Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 11: The Union Executive > 5. The Attorney-General for India > p. 233
Strength: 5/5
“Any Committee thereof, but shall have no dght to vote [Article 88]. By virtue of his office, he is entitled to privileges of a member of Parliament. [Article 105(4)]. In the performance of his official duties, the Attorney-General shall have a right: of audience in all courts in the territory of India. The Attorney-General for India shall be appointed by the President and shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. He must have the same qualifications as are required to be a judge of the Supreme Court. He shall receive such remuneration as the President may determine. He is not wholetime counsel for the Government nor a Government servant.”
Why relevant

States the Attorney-General has the right to speak in the Houses of Parliament and committees, and has privileges of a member under Article 105(4).

How to extend

A student could compare the constitutional provision for the AG with provisions (or lack thereof) for the Solicitor General or others to assess whether similar rights are granted.

Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 13: The State Executive > 4. The Advocate-General > p. 278
Strength: 4/5
“Advocate-General. Each State shall have an Advocate-General for the State, a official corresponding to the Attorney-General of India, and having similar functions for the State. He shall be appointed by the Governor of the State and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor. Any person who is qualified to be a Judge of a High Court can be appointed as Advocate-General. He receives such remuneration as the Governor may determine. He shall have the right to speak and to take part in the proceedings of, but no right to vote in the Houses of the Legislature of the State [Article I77].”
Why relevant

Shows that at the state level, the Advocate-General 'shall have the right to speak and to take part in the proceedings' of the State Legislature, indicating that non-member legal officers can have speaking rights by constitutional provision.

How to extend

A student could use this analogy to check whether parliamentary practice or law similarly confers speaking rights on other Union law officers (like the Solicitor General) or on officials beyond AG/SG.

Statement 2
Does the Constitution of India require the Attorney General of India to submit his resignation when the central government that appointed him resigns?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 11: The Union Executive > 5. The Attorney-General for India > p. 233
Strength: 5/5
“Any Committee thereof, but shall have no dght to vote [Article 88]. By virtue of his office, he is entitled to privileges of a member of Parliament. [Article 105(4)]. In the performance of his official duties, the Attorney-General shall have a right: of audience in all courts in the territory of India. The Attorney-General for India shall be appointed by the President and shall hold office during the pleasure of the President. He must have the same qualifications as are required to be a judge of the Supreme Court. He shall receive such remuneration as the President may determine. He is not wholetime counsel for the Government nor a Government servant.”
Why relevant

States that the Attorney‑General 'shall hold office during the pleasure of the President' — indicating the AG's tenure is at pleasure rather than fixed or explicitly tied to the Council of Ministers.

How to extend

A student could combine this with the constitutional meaning of 'during pleasure' and examine whether a change of government automatically ends offices 'at pleasure' or requires resignation/removal procedures.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 53: Attorney General of India > APPOINTMENT AND TERM > p. 450
Strength: 5/5
“t APPOINTMENT AND TERM The Attorney General (AG) is appointed by the President. He/ she must be a person, who is qualified to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court. In other words, he/ she must be a citizen of India and must have been a judge of some high court for five years or an advocate of some high court for ten years or an eminent jurist, in the opinion of the President. The term of office of the AG is not fixed by the Constitution. Further, the Constitution does not contain the procedure and grounds for his/her removal.”
Why relevant

Notes the term of office of the AG is not fixed by the Constitution and the Constitution does not contain the procedure and grounds for his/her removal.

How to extend

One could use this to test whether absence of removal procedure implies customary resignation on government change or leaves it to presidential pleasure/ political convention.

Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 13: The State Executive > 4. The Advocate-General > p. 278
Strength: 4/5
“Advocate-General. Each State shall have an Advocate-General for the State, a official corresponding to the Attorney-General of India, and having similar functions for the State. He shall be appointed by the Governor of the State and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor. Any person who is qualified to be a Judge of a High Court can be appointed as Advocate-General. He receives such remuneration as the Governor may determine. He shall have the right to speak and to take part in the proceedings of, but no right to vote in the Houses of the Legislature of the State [Article I77].”
Why relevant

Describes the Advocate‑General of a State as appointed by the Governor and holding office 'during the pleasure of the Governor'—a direct parallel office at state level.

How to extend

A student could compare central (AG) and state (Advocate‑General) practices: if Advocate‑Generals customarily offer resignation when state governments change, that analogy may suggest likely conventions for the AG.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 30: Governor > TERM OF GOVERNOR'S OFFICE > p. 315
Strength: 4/5
“The Constitution does not lay down any grounds upon which a governor may be removed by the President. Hence, the National Front Government headed by V.P. Singh (1989) asked all the governors to resign as they were appointed by the Congress government. Eventually, some of the governors were replaced and some were allowed to continue. The same thing was repeated in 1991, when the Congress Government headed by P.V. Narasimha Rao changed fourteen governors appointed by the V.P. The President may transfer a Governor appointed to one state to another for the rest of the term. Further, a Governor whose term has expired may be reappointed in the same state or any other state.”
Why relevant

Explains that although the Constitution does not lay down grounds for removal of governors, political practice has been to ask governors appointed by previous governments to resign when a new government takes office.

How to extend

Using this historical practice as an example, a student might infer that constitutional silence often yields political convention (ask for resignations) and check if similar convention exists for the AG.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > 2022 TEST PAPER > p. 763
Strength: 3/5
“2. The law does not provide any time frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct? • (a) I only • (b) 2 only • (e) Both I and 2 • (d) Neither I nor 2 7. Consider the following statements: • 1. Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India are the only officers of the Government who are allowed to participate in the meetings of the Parliament of India. • 2. According to the Constitution of India, the Attorney General of India submits his resignation when the Government which appointed him resigns.”
Why relevant

Contains an examination-style statement asserting (as a proposition) that 'According to the Constitution... the Attorney General of India submits his resignation when the Government which appointed him resigns'—showing the claim exists in study material as a debatable proposition.

How to extend

A student could treat this as a prompt to verify the assertion against the constitutional text and conventions, not as proof, and seek authoritative practice or precedent.

Pattern takeaway: The 'Constitution vs. Convention' trap is a recurring UPSC favorite. If a statement attributes a procedural norm (like resignation on govt change) or a specific number/limit to the Constitution, it is almost always false. The Constitution is often silent on administrative details.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter/Trap. Direct hit from Laxmikanth (Chapter: Attorney General).
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Constitutional Bodies vs. Non-Constitutional Law Officers and their Parliamentary Privileges (Article 88).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize Article 76 (AG) vs. Article 165 (Advocate General); Article 88 (AG rights in Parliament) vs. Article 177 (Advocate General rights); Solicitor General is statutory/executive, not Constitutional; 'Pleasure of President' applies to AG, Governor, Ministers; AG has right of audience in all Indian courts.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When a statement says 'According to the Constitution,' switch to 'Lawyer Mode.' If the text doesn't explicitly say it (like resignation triggers), mark it wrong. Do not conflate 'what happens in practice' with 'what is written in law'.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Right to speak and take part in Parliament (Ministers and Attorney-General)
💡 The insight

Ministers and the Attorney-General have a legal right to speak and take part in proceedings of either House and in committees, though they cannot vote.

High-yield: clarifies that non-members (ministers, AG) may participate in parliamentary proceedings, linking constitutional provisions on privileges and parliamentary procedure. Useful for questions on executive-legislative interaction, rights of non-members, and parliamentary practice.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 23: Parliament > Rights of Ministers and Attorney General > p. 239
  • Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 23: Parliament > Rights of Ministers and Attorney General > p. 239
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Attorney General of India and the Solicitor General of India the only go..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Constitutional status and functions of the Attorney-General of India
💡 The insight

The Attorney-General is a constitutional office (Article 76) with duties to advise the government and a right to speak in Parliament and audience in courts.

High-yield: covers appointment, qualifications, tenure and parliamentary privileges; important for questions on Union Executive, legal officers, and separation of powers. Helps in comparing constitutional versus non-constitutional law officers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 11: The Union Executive > 5. The Attorney-General for India > p. 232
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 11: The Union Executive > 5. The Attorney-General for India > p. 233
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 53: Attorney General of India > Attorney General of India > p. 450
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Attorney General of India and the Solicitor General of India the only go..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Hierarchy of Central law officers (Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor Generals)
💡 The insight

Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor Generals assist the Attorney-General but their offices are not created by the Constitution.

High-yield: distinguishes constitutional office (AG) from supporting law-offices, which affects their formal status and possible parliamentary privileges — useful for questions asking legal basis and status of officers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 53: Attorney General of India > SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA > p. 451
🔗 Anchor: "Are the Attorney General of India and the Solicitor General of India the only go..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Hold office during the pleasure of the President
💡 The insight

The Attorney General’s tenure is described as serving at the President’s pleasure, which governs continuance of office rather than automatic resignation on ministry change.

High-yield: many questions ask how tenure and removal of constitutional officers are determined; understanding 'pleasure of the President' clarifies whether offices are linked to ministerial fortunes. Connects to topics on appointment, removal and independence of law officers and helps answer MCQs and descriptive questions on tenure and executive powers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 11: The Union Executive > 5. The Attorney-General for India > p. 233
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 53: Attorney General of India > APPOINTMENT AND TERM > p. 450
🔗 Anchor: "Does the Constitution of India require the Attorney General of India to submit h..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Attorney-General is a constitutional law officer but not a Cabinet member
💡 The insight

The Attorney-General is a constitutionally created legal officer who is not part of the Cabinet, so his position is institutionally distinct from ministerial offices that fall with the government.

Important for UPSC: distinguishes between political ministers and constitutional functionaries; useful in polity answers on ministerial responsibility, privileges, and the role of law officers. Enables comparisons between Crown/Westminster conventions and Indian constitutional design in essays and mains answers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 53: Attorney General of India > SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA > p. 451
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 11: The Union Executive > 5. The Attorney-General for India > p. 232
🔗 Anchor: "Does the Constitution of India require the Attorney General of India to submit h..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Constitution does not fix term or removal procedure for certain law officers
💡 The insight

The Constitution neither prescribes a fixed term for the Attorney-General nor sets out specific removal procedure or grounds, indicating tenure is not automatically tied to the resignation of the appointing ministry.

Exam-relevant: helps answer questions on constitutional silence — when the Constitution is silent on tenure/removal, consequences follow from general principles (e.g., pleasure of President). Useful for questions on institutional design, vacancies and conventions governing high offices.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 53: Attorney General of India > APPOINTMENT AND TERM > p. 450
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 54: Advocate General of the State > APPOINTMENT AND TERM > p. 452
🔗 Anchor: "Does the Constitution of India require the Attorney General of India to submit h..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Remuneration of the AG vs. Judges. The Constitution fixes the salary of Supreme Court Judges (Second Schedule), but for the Attorney General, it is NOT fixed by the Constitution; it is determined by the President.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Source Authority' Filter. For Statement 2, look at the phrase 'According to the Constitution.' Ask: 'Does the Constitution micromanage resignation letters?' No, it deals with high-level tenure ('Pleasure of President'). Therefore, specific resignation triggers are likely Conventions. Statement 2 is false.

🔗 Mains Connection

GS-2 (Separation of Powers): The AG is the bridge between the Executive and the Judiciary. While they are an Executive appointee, they must act as an officer of the Court. This tension is a key Mains theme regarding the 'politicization of law officers' and the 'Rule of Law'.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2003 · Q40 Relevance score: 5.55

Consider the following statements : Attorney-General of India can I. take part in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha. II. be a member of a Committee of the Parliament III. speak in the Lok Sabha. IV. vote in the Lok Sabha. Which of these statements is/are correct?

IAS · 2013 · Q37 Relevance score: 5.43

Consider the following statements : Attorney General of India can 1. Take part in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha 2. Be a member of a committee of the Lok Sabha 3. Speak in the Lok Sabha 4. Vote in the Lok Sabha Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CDS-I · 2018 · Q85 Relevance score: 5.05

Which of the following statements about Attorney General of India is/are not correct? 1.. He is the first Law Officer of the Government of India. 2. He is entitled to the privileges of a Member of the Parliament. 3. He is a whole-time counsel for the Government. 4. He must have the same qualifications as are required to be a judge of the Supreme Court. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IAS · 2000 · Q5 Relevance score: 4.67

Consider the following statements about the Attorney-General of India : I. He is appointed by the President of India. II. He must have the same qualifications as are required for a Judge of the Supreme Court. III. He must be a member of either House of Parliament. IV. He can be removed by impeachment by Parliament. Which of these statements are correct ?

CAPF · 2009 · Q69 Relevance score: 4.40

Which of the following statements are correct ? The attorney general of India 1. must have the qualifications as that required by a judge of the supreme court. 2. enjoys the same privileges and immunities as the members of Parliament. 3. has the right of audience in all courts of India. 4. his salaries and expenses are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. Select the correct answer using the code given below :