Attorney General of India UPSC Notes – Article 76, Roles, Powers & Responsibilities
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All About Attorney General of India – UPSC CSE Polity Guide
The Attorney General of India, appointed under Article 76 of the Indian Constitution, is the highest law officer in the country. For UPSC Indian Polity preparation, understanding the duties, functions, and rights of the Attorney General is crucial. Whether you're looking for a list of Attorney Generals of India, details about the First Attorney General of India, or current updates like the 15th Attorney General of India 2025, this guide covers it all. Also included is information about the Solicitor General of India, who assists the Attorney General in legal matters. Discover how the Attorney General of India is appointed, their key responsibilities, and their critical role in advising the government on legal matters.
Attorney General of India – Article 76, Powers, Duties, and Appointment Explained
The Attorney General of India (AGI) holds the prestigious position of being the chief legal advisor to the Government of India. Article 76 of the Indian Constitution provides the legal foundation for this office, establishing it as the highest legal authority in the country.
Who is the Attorney General of India?
The Attorney General is appointed by the President of India
and must be qualified to serve as a judge of the Supreme Court. The AG acts as
the primary legal advisor to the central government and represents the Union in
legal matters before the courts.
Appointment and Tenure of the Attorney General of India
The President of India appoints the Attorney General (AGI), who serves as the chief legal advisor to the Government of India. To qualify for this prestigious post, a person must meet the following eligibility criteria:
a) Must be an Indian
citizen.
b) Must have served for at
least five years as a judge in any High Court of India, or ten years as an
advocate in a High Court.
c) Must be regarded as a
distinguished jurist by the President of India.
Attorney General (AGI) Tenure Details
Unlike many constitutional posts, the Attorney General does
not have a fixed tenure. The Indian Constitution does not specify any formal
procedure or grounds for removal of the AGI.
Key Highlights
a) The AGI continues to hold
office at the pleasure of the President.
b) The President can remove the
Attorney General at any time.
c) The AGI also has the option to
resign voluntarily by addressing a resignation to the President.
d) The Constitution does not
define a specific salary or perks for this role — these are decided by the
Government.
Key Duties of the Attorney General
Advises the Government of India on legal issues referred by the President.
Represents the Union Government in cases before the Supreme Court.
May appear in High Courts in matters involving the Central
Government.
Rights of the Attorney General
a) Can appear and speak in both Houses of Parliament, including joint sessions (Note: AG cannot vote).
b) Has the right of audience in any court across India.
Restrictions on the Attorney General
i) Cannot advise or represent parties against the Government of India.
ii) Must obtain government permission before defending an accused in criminal cases.
iii) Requires government approval to take up any directorship or
corporate role.
List of Attorneys General of India (Till Date)
| S. No. | Name of AG | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | M.C. Setalvad | 28 Jan 1950 – 1 Mar 1963 |
| 2 | C.K. Daftari | 2 Mar 1963 – 30 Oct 1968 |
| 3 | Niren De | 1 Nov 1968 – 31 Mar 1977 |
| 4 | S.V. Gupte | 1 Apr 1977 – 8 Aug 1979 |
| 5 | L.N. Sinha | 9 Aug 1979 – 8 Aug 1983 |
| 6 | K. Parasaran | 9 Aug 1983 – 8 Dec 1989 |
| 7 | Soli Sorabjee | 9 Dec 1989 – 2 Dec 1990 |
| 8 | J. Ramaswamy | 3 Dec 1990 – 23 Nov 1992 |
| 9 | Milon K. Banerji | 21 Nov 1992 – 8 Jul 1996 |
| 10 | Ashok Desai | 9 Jul 1996 – 6 Apr 1998 |
| 11 | Soli Sorabjee (2nd Term) | 7 Apr 1998 – 4 Jun 2004 |
| 12 | Milon K. Banerjee (2nd Term) | 5 Jun 2004 – 7 Jun 2009 |
| 13 | G.E. Vahanvati | 8 Jun 2009 – 11 Jun 2014 |
| 14 | Mukul Rohatgi | 12 Jun 2014 – 30 Jun 2017 |
| 15 | K.K. Venugopal | 30 Jun 2017 – 2022 |
| 16 | R. VENKATARAMANI | 1 Oct 2022 – Present |
GK Questions on Attorney General of India MCQ(For SSC, UPSC, NDA)
1. Who has the authority to appoint the Attorney General of
India?
a) Prime Minister
b) Chief Justice of India
c) President of India
d) Law Minister
Answer: c) President of India
2. What is the minimum experience required as an advocate in
a High Court to be eligible for the post of Attorney General?
a) 3 years
b) 5 years
c) 7 years
d) 10 years
Answer: d) 10 years
3. Which of the following statements is true regarding the
term of the Attorney General?
a) Fixed 5-year term
b) Appointed till the age of 65
c) Tenure is fixed by the Parliament
d) No fixed tenure is defined in the Constitution
Answer: d) No fixed tenure is defined in the Constitution
4. On whose pleasure does the Attorney General of India
remain in office?
a) Supreme Court
b) Prime Minister
c) Parliament
d) President of India
Answer: d) President of India
5. Who determines the salary and service conditions of the
Attorney General of India?
a) Constitution
b) Chief Justice of India
c) Council of Ministers
d) Government of India
Answer: d) Government of India
6. Which of the following is not a qualification for
appointment as the Attorney General of India?
a) Must be a citizen of India
b) Must be a sitting judge of Supreme Court
c) Must have served as a High Court advocate for 10 years
d) Must be considered an eminent jurist by the President
Answer: b) Must be a sitting judge of Supreme Court
7. How can the Attorney General of India be removed from
office?
a) Through impeachment
b) By the Chief Justice of India
c) At the discretion of the President
d) By Lok Sabha vote
Answer: c) At the discretion of the President
8. Who appoints the Attorney General of India?
A. President
B. Chief Justice of India
C. Prime Minister
D. Parliament
Answer: A. President
9. Who is the highest law officer in India?
A. Advocate General
B. Chief Justice of India
C. Comptroller and Auditor General
D. Attorney General of India
Answer: D. Attorney General of India
10. Who was the first Attorney General of India?
A. L.N. Sinha
B. Niren De
C. M.C. Setalvad
D. S.V. Gupte
Answer: C. M.C. Setalvad
All About Solicitor General of India – Powers, Role & Appointment for UPSC CSE
Who is Solicitor General of India ?
The Solicitor General of India is the second-highest law officer of the country, ranking just below the Attorney General of India. The post is crucial in representing the Union Government in legal matters, especially in the Supreme Court and High Courts.
Solicitor General of India Appointed By
The Solicitor General is appointed by the Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), which is headed by the Prime Minister. Unlike
the Attorney General, the Solicitor General is not a constitutional post but a
statutory one.
Solicitor General Tenure
There is no fixed tenure for the Solicitor General. The
government holds the pleasure to continue or terminate the appointment based
on performance and requirement.
Solicitor General Functions and Duties:
a) Assists the Attorney General in legal matters.
b) Represents the Union of India in the Supreme Court and other courts.
c) Provides legal advice to the Government when requested.
d) Defends the Government in constitutional cases, appeals, and other important matters.
Difference between Attorney General and Solicitor General:
Feature Attorney
General Solicitor General
Status Constitutional
post (Article 76) Statutory post
(Executive appointment)
Rank Highest law
officer of India Second-highest
law officer
Advises government? Yes Mostly assists in legal representation
Can participate in Parliament? Yes No
Additional Solicitor General of India – Overview
The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) is a senior legal officer who assists the Solicitor General and the Attorney General in discharging their duties. They play a crucial role in representing the Union Government in various courts, particularly the Supreme Court and High Courts.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Appointment:
a) Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by the Prime Minister of India.
b) It is a non-constitutional and statutory post, created
through executive action.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Role and Responsibilities:
a) Assist the Solicitor General and Attorney General in legal matters.
b) Appear on behalf of the Union of India in legal cases, especially when multiple cases are pending in different courts.
c) Handle important legal issues involving the central government.
d) Prepare briefs, arguments, and opinions on behalf of various ministries.
How many Additional Solicitor General of India
a) The number of Additional Solicitor Generals is not fixed and may vary depending on the government's need.
b) They are usually assigned to different High Courts and also
appear in the Supreme Court.
Additional Solicitor General of India Tenure:
The tenure is not fixed, and they hold office at the
pleasure of the President, as decided by the government.
Additional Solicitor General of India Key Points:
a) ASGs are not part of the Union Cabinet.
c) Their role is mostly professional and legal, not political.
Solicitor General of India & Additional Solicitor General of India Based MCQ
1. Who appoints the Solicitor General of India?
a) President of India
b) Parliament of India
c) Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
d) Chief Justice of India
Answer: c) Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet
2. Which of the following statements is true about the
Additional Solicitor General (ASG)?
a) ASG is a constitutional post under Article 76
b) ASG is part of the Union Cabinet
c) ASG assists the Attorney General and Solicitor General
d) ASG is elected by members of the Supreme Court
Answer: c) ASG assists the
Attorney General and Solicitor General
3. What is the main function of the Solicitor General of
India?
a) Conduct elections in the country
b) Advise the President on international relations
c) Represent the Government of India in court
d) Appoint judges to the Supreme Court
Answer: c) Represent the
Government of India in court
4. How many Additional Solicitor Generals can be appointed
at a time?
a) Fixed at 5
b) Maximum of 10
c) Only 1 per High Court
d) No fixed number
Answer: d) No fixed number
5. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the
Solicitor General of India?
a) He is the second-highest law officer after the Attorney
General
b) He has the right to participate in parliamentary debates
c) He is appointed for legal assistance to the government
d) He does not hold a constitutional post
Answer: b) He has the right to
participate in parliamentary debates
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Solicitor General of India
1) Who was the first Solicitor General of India?
Answer: The first Solicitor General of India was C.K. Daphtary, who served from 1950 to 1963. He later became the second Attorney General of India.
2) How many Solicitor Generals are there in India?
Answer: India has one Solicitor General at a time. The Solicitor General is the second-highest law officer after the Attorney General of India and is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
3) How many Additional Solicitor Generals are there in India?
Answer: There are currently several Additional Solicitor Generals (ASGs) in India. Their number may vary from time to time based on government requirements. Typically, there are around 7–10 ASGs appointed by the Central Government.
4) What is the salary of the Solicitor General of India?
Answer: The Solicitor General of India’s salary is not fixed by a specific pay scale like regular government officers but are estimated to range between ₹2.5 to ₹4 lakh or more.
