Duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General
Quick Summary (TL;DR)
Article 149 (Duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General): Secures independent auditing of Union and State public accounts by the CAG under Part V.
In Simple Citizen Words
Article 149 ('Duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General') in Part V, Chapter V governs the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG)—whom Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called probably the most important officer under the Constitution. It regulates the independent office of the CAG (Art 148), audit duties over Union and State expenditures (Art 149), standard form of government accounts (Art 150), and laying of audit reports before Parliament and State Legislatures (Art 151).
Key Constitutional Provisions
Constitutional Mandate (Art. 149): Directly codifies the legal rule for 'Duties and powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General' under Part V
Sets a direct, self-contained constitutional command binding on public authorities across India
Requires transparent Parliamentary law-making and democratic accountability rather than arbitrary executive action
Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions
The CAG cannot hold any further office under the Union or State Government after retirement (Article 148(4)), ensuring complete neutrality from executive lure.
Why This Matters in Daily Life
Protects taxpayers' money by exposing financial irregularities, scams, and unauthorized government spending before Parliament and the public.
Want deeper legal & historical context? Explore the official Bare Act or Supreme Court Precedents & CAD Debates: