Which of the following constitutional authorities in India hold office during the pleasure of the President? I. Attorney General of India II. Governors of States III. Comptroller and Auditor General of India Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Introduction / Context:

The phrase "during the pleasure of the President" is often used in the Indian Constitution to describe how long certain office holders remain in position. It reflects a type of tenure in which the holder can be removed by the President without a fixed term, subject to constitutional limitations. This question tests your understanding of which high constitutional offices actually have such a tenure and which have a more secure, fixed tenure protected by special removal procedures.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The offices listed are: Attorney General of India, Governors of States, and Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• The question asks which of these hold office during the pleasure of the President.
• Options are presented as codes combining I, II, and III.
• We assume knowledge of basic Articles regarding appointment and removal of these authorities.

Concept / Approach:

The Attorney General of India is appointed by the President under Article 76 and holds office during the pleasure of the President. Similarly, Governors of States are appointed by the President under Article 155 and hold office during the pleasure of the President as stated in Article 156. In contrast, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is given security of tenure under Article 148; the CAG can be removed only in a manner similar to that of a judge of the Supreme Court, not simply at the pleasure of the President. Therefore, only I and II have pleasure tenure, while III has a protected tenure.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

You can cross check by remembering which offices are deliberately insulated from executive influence. The CAG's role as independent auditor of government accounts requires security of tenure to avoid pressure from the executive, so it would not make sense for the CAG to serve at the pleasure of the President. In contrast, the Attorney General is the government's chief legal adviser and is expected to leave office when the government changes or when the President so decides. Governors also routinely change with political shifts, which fits with a pleasure tenure. This pattern confirms that I and II, but not III, come under the pleasure of the President.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, Only I, wrongly excludes Governors even though their Articles clearly mention pleasure of the President. Option C, Both I and III, incorrectly treats the CAG as holding office at the pleasure of the President, which would undermine the independence of this office. Option D, Both II and III, similarly misclassifies the CAG and omits the Attorney General, who definitely holds office during the President's pleasure. Therefore, only option B correctly captures the constitutional position.

Common Pitfalls:

Students often confuse which officers enjoy protection similar to that of Supreme Court judges and which do not. A typical mistake is to assume that all high level appointees of the President serve at pleasure, overlooking special provisions for independent authorities like the CAG or judges. Another pitfall is to think that the Attorney General has the same security as the judges, which is not the case. To avoid errors, keep a clear mental list of offices with protected tenure and those with pleasure tenure.

Final Answer:

The constitutional authorities who hold office during the pleasure of the President are the Attorney General of India and the Governors of States, that is, Both I and II.