The question asks to identify the specific Article of the Indian Constitution that primarily prescribes the duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. This requires knowledge of the constitutional provisions related to the CAG.
Correct Option: C) Article 149
The question asks to identify which of the given institutions is NOT considered a "bulwark of the democratic system of government" in India, similar to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Bulwarks are institutions that uphold and protect the democratic framework by ensuring accountability, fairness, and the rule of law.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central bank of India, responsible for monetary policy, financial stability, and regulating the banking sector. While crucial for the economy, it is primarily an economic institution and not typically classified as a "bulwark of the democratic system" in the same constitutional and governance sense as the CAG, Election Commission, UPSC, or Supreme Court. Its independence is economic, not primarily to uphold democratic principles of governance directly.
The question asks to identify the entity that serves as a 'friend, philosopher, and guide' to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Indian Parliament. This role is crucial for the PAC's function of scrutinizing government expenditure.
A) Comptroller and Auditor General — The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is the chief auditor of the government and plays a pivotal role in assisting the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by providing expert advice and clarification on audit reports. This makes the CAG the 'friend, philosopher, and guide' to the PAC.
The question asks about the specific Article in the Indian Constitution that prescribes the form in which the accounts of the Union and States shall be kept. This requires knowledge of the Articles related to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and financial administration.
B) Article 150: This Article explicitly states that the accounts of the Union and of the States shall be kept in such form as the President may, on the advice of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, prescribe. This directly answers the question.
The question asks for the specific Article of the Indian Constitution that establishes the Election Commission of India. To answer this, one needs to recall the constitutional provisions related to the Election Commission.
D) Article 324
Article 324 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of the Election Commission of India. It states that the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to Parliament and to the Legislature of every State and of elections to the offices of President and Vice-President held under this Constitution shall be vested in a Commission (referred to in this Constitution as the Election Commission).
The question asks about the tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. This is a factual question related to the constitutional bodies and their functioning in India. The tenure of constitutional officeholders is typically defined by specific age limits or years of service, whichever comes first.
Correct Option: C) 6 years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier
This option accurately reflects the statutory provision regarding the tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner of India.