Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Attorney General of India
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India creates several important legal and judicial offices. Among these, one position is traditionally described as the first law officer of the country because it carries primary responsibility for advising the Union Government on legal matters. Understanding this role is fundamental for questions on Indian polity and governance.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Article 76 of the Constitution establishes the office of the Attorney General of India. The Attorney General is the highest law officer of the Union and has the right of audience in all courts in India. This officer advises the government on legal matters and appears on its behalf in the Supreme Court and other courts. The Chief Justice heads the judiciary, and the Law Minister is a cabinet member, but neither is called the first law officer.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Attorney General of India is created by Article 76.Step 2: Note that the Attorney General gives legal advice to the Government of India and appears in court on its behalf.Step 3: Recognise that this office is widely described as the first law officer of the country.Step 4: Compare this description with the options given.Step 5: Select Attorney General of India as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
Standard polity textbooks and official sources clearly state that the Attorney General is the first law officer of India. The Chief Justice heads the Supreme Court, and the Solicitor General assists the Attorney General but does not outrank that office. This confirms that the Attorney General is the appropriate choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: The Chief Justice of India is head of the judiciary but is not designated as the first law officer advising the government.Option C: The Union Law Minister is a political office and part of the executive, not the top legal adviser in the constitutional sense.Option D: The Solicitor General assists the Attorney General and ranks below that office.Option E: The Chairperson of the Law Commission heads an advisory body and is not the country first law officer.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse judicial hierarchy with the role of legal adviser and assume that the Chief Justice must be the first law officer. Another mistake is to think that the Law Minister holds this title because of the word law in the designation. To avoid such confusion, remember that the first law officer refers specifically to the Attorney General under Article 76.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is Attorney General of India.
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