In the official hierarchy of law officers of the Government of India, who is known as the “Second Law Officer of India”?

Introduction / Context:
The Government of India has a designated hierarchy of law officers who represent it in courts and give legal advice. The Attorney General of India is the highest law officer of the Union. Just below the Attorney General in this hierarchy is another important position often referred to as the “Second Law Officer of India.” This question tests whether you can correctly identify that position and not confuse it with judicial or political offices.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question uses the title “Second Law Officer of India,” implying a ranking immediately below the highest law officer.
The options given are Chief Justice of India, Law Minister of India, Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India.
It is assumed that you know that the Attorney General is the first law officer and that the Solicitor General ranks just below.

Concept / Approach:
The Attorney General of India, appointed under Article 76 of the Constitution, is the highest law officer of the country and the principal legal adviser to the Government of India. The Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor Generals assist the Attorney General. In terms of law-officer hierarchy, the Solicitor General of India is commonly referred to as the second highest law officer, hence the “Second Law Officer of India.” The Chief Justice is the head of the judiciary, not a law officer of the government, and the Law Minister is a political office, not a designated law officer in the same sense.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Attorney General of India is the top law officer, advising the Union government and representing it in the Supreme Court and other courts. Step 2: Remember that the Solicitor General of India works directly under the Attorney General and assists in handling important cases and legal opinions. Step 3: Understand that in common terminology, this makes the Solicitor General the “Second Law Officer of India.” Step 4: Compare with the other options: the Chief Justice of India heads the judiciary, and the Law Minister is a Cabinet member responsible for the law ministry, but neither is classified as the second law officer in the official sense. Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is the Solicitor General of India.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard polity references clearly state that the Attorney General is the first law officer and that the Solicitor General is the second-ranking law officer who appears for the government in important cases. The office of Solicitor General is usually occupied by a senior advocate with extensive experience, further reinforcing its position as second only to the Attorney General in this hierarchy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Chief Justice of India: The Chief Justice leads the Supreme Court and the Indian judiciary but is independent of the executive; he or she is not designated as a law officer of the government. Law Minister of India: The Law Minister is a political executive position within the Council of Ministers, responsible for law and justice policy, but is not a professional law officer in the legal-advocate sense. Attorney General of India: This is the first and highest law officer, not the second. The question specifically asks for the “Second Law Officer of India.”

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse “law officer” with “legal authority,” leading some students to think of the Chief Justice or the Law Minister. Another pitfall is to forget the hierarchical order among the government's legal officers. To avoid this, remember the simple ladder: Attorney General at the top, followed by Solicitor General and then Additional Solicitor Generals.

Final Answer:
The “Second Law Officer of India” is the Solicitor General of India.