Constitutional Posts: President, Governor and Special Officers

Some posts are written straight into the Constitution: the President, the Governor, the Attorney General, the CAG and a few special officers. This lesson shows who they are, how they get their jobs, what they do, and why some of these choices are hotly debated.

1Chapter 1: The President and the Governor

Must Know

The President

• The President is the formal head of state.
• Most real power lies with the elected government.
• The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college.
• The college has elected MPs and elected members of state legislative assemblies. (Elected members of the Delhi and Puducherry assemblies also vote.)
• Members of state Legislative Councils are not in it.
• The President almost always acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.
• Personal discretion is reserved for a narrow set of exceptional situations.
• Read more: Election of the President.

The Governor

• The Governor is the formal head of a state (Article 153).
• The office plays the same ceremonial role at state level that the President plays nationally.
• The President appoints the Governor on the Union government’s advice.
• The post is never filled by a state-level election.
• Like the President, the Governor normally acts on the advice of the state’s Council of Ministers.
• Read more: The Governor: Office, Powers and Immunities.

2Chapter 2: Special Officer, Attorney General and CAG

Good to Know

Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities

• Article 350B creates this post.
• It protects the interests of people who speak a minority language within their own state.
• The officer investigates matters on constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities and reports periodically to the President.
• It shows the Constitution building in a targeted safeguard for a specific group.
• Read more: National Commission for Minorities.

Attorney General of India

• The Attorney General is India’s first law officer.
• The post advises the government on legal matters and represents it in court, especially the Supreme Court.
• The President appoints the AG, who must be qualified to be a Supreme Court judge.
• The AG is not a whole-time counsel for the government and holds no ministerial rank.
• This helps the office keep some independence.

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)

• The CAG audits the accounts of the Union and every state.
• It is the constitutional guardian of how public money is spent.
• Reports on Union accounts go to the President, who places them before Parliament. State reports go to the Governor, who places them before the legislature.
• The CAG has a fixed term.
• The office is built to criticise spending freely, without fear of losing the post.
• Read more: Article 148: The CAG.

3Chapter 3: A Debate and a Blueprint

Great to Know

The Governor debate

• The Governor is chosen by the Centre, not elected locally.
• This gives the Union real influence over a state-level office.
• Supporters say it keeps every state connected to the national government and preserves unity.
• Critics say it lets the Centre pressure state politics, weakening state autonomy.
• National coordination versus state autonomy is a real, ongoing debate in federalism.

When can they act alone?

• The President and Governor normally act on ministerial advice.
• In narrow situations, each can use real discretion.
• For the Governor: where the Constitution requires it, and in certain other situations the Constitution or convention recognises.
• Example: when a state government loses its majority, the Governor may have to judge who is invited to form the next government.
• Discretion is rare and exceptional, not the daily rule.

A shared design

• Both offices pair a formal, ceremonial head with a real executive accountable to the legislature.
• The difference is selection: indirect election for the President, appointment for the Governor.
• It is like a chairperson and a chief executive in an organisation. The head holds the title. The Prime Minister or Chief Minister runs the government.

4Chapter 4: Real Questions and 2025-26 News

Exam Angle

Past questions

• CAPF 2021: what is not in the electoral college? Members of state Legislative Councils. See the question.
• CAPF 2020: when can a Governor use discretion? When the Constitution requires it or in certain listed situations. See the question.
• CDS (I) 2018: what is not correct about the AG? The AG is not a whole-time counsel. See the question.
• CDS (II) 2018: to whom does the CAG report? The President. Also, CAPF 2017 tested safeguards for linguistic minorities. See the question.

In the news

• On 26 September 2025, the President extended R. Venkataramani’s term as Attorney General for two more years, through 30 September 2027.
• He was first appointed on 1 October 2022, succeeding K.K. Venugopal.
• K. Sanjay Murthy took over as CAG, succeeding Girish Chandra Murmu.
• (Source: Drishti IAS.)

Quick Q&A

• Governor article? 153.
• Linguistic officer? Article 350B.
• AG rank? Not a minister.
• CAG reports to? President (Union accounts).
• AG term to? 30 Sept 2027.