The second-ranking law officer of the Union, who assists the Attorney General in representing the Government of India in court.
- It is a statutory office, not a constitutional one; it has no separate mention in the Constitution (unlike the Attorney General under Article 76).
- Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet; assisted in turn by several Additional Solicitors General.
- Subordinate to the Attorney General; helps conduct the Government's litigation before the Supreme Court and High Courts.
- Unlike the Attorney General, the Solicitor General does not have the constitutional right to participate in the proceedings of Parliament.
- The duties and conditions are governed by the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules rather than by the Constitution.
The constitutional Attorney General versus the statutory Solicitor General distinction is a frequent objective trap in the union-executive section.
The Solicitor General is statutory and finds no place in the Constitution, whereas the Attorney General is the only law officer named in the Constitution (Art 76); the Solicitor General assists but does not replace the Attorney General.
Statutory second law officer of the Union, subordinate to the Attorney General, with no constitutional mention.