Centre revises fees for its law officers; ₹1.20L monthly retainer for Attorney General, ₹96K for SG

The Central government on February 5 notified revised fees for its law officers.

The Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2026, which contain the new fee structure, will be applicable from February 1, 2026.

The Attorney General for India will be paid a ₹1,20,000 retainer fee per month.

The retainer fee for the Solicitor General of India is ₹96,000 per month and for an Additional Solicitor General, it is ₹72,000 per month.

The fees payable to these law officers for various cases and appearances before the Supreme Court, High Courts, other courts and tribunals have also been notified.

For appearance in suits, writ petitions, appeals and references, the law officers will be paid ₹38,000 per case per day. For Special Leave Petitions and other applications, they will be paid ₹24,000 per day.

For giving opinions in statements of cases sent by the Ministry of Law (only for matters involving questions of constitutional or statutory interpretation and importance), the fee is ₹24,000 per case

For written submissions before the Supreme Court, High Courts and Commissions of Inquiry or Tribunals, the fee is ₹24,000 per case.

Law Officers in the Supreme Court will be paid ₹96,000 per case per day for appearance in courts outside Delhi.

For appearance in courts within their jurisdiction, apart from their headquarters, an Additional Solicitor General will be paid ₹60,000 per case per day.

The Centre also issued an Office Memorandum on February 5 detailing a revised pay structure for Central Government Counsel, which will be applicable from February 1 as well.

For the Supreme Court panel, there is a tiered payment structure that distinguishes between Group ‘A’ and Groups ‘B’ and ‘C’ counsel.

For final hearings of regular appeals and writ petitions, Group A counsel will be entitled to ₹21,600 per case per day, while Group B and C counsel will receive ₹14,400.

For admission of SLPs, transfer petitions, writ petitions, and miscellaneous cases, Group A counsel will receive ₹14,400 and Group B and C counsel will receive ₹7,200 per case per day.

The OM contains a separate fee table for counsel representing the Centre before High Courts and District Courts.

Deputy Solicitors General of India, Senior Central Government Standing Counsel, Additional Central Government Standing Counsel and Senior Panel Counsel who represent the Centre before High Courts and tribunals will be entitled to a monthly retainer of ₹14,400.

The OM also addresses fees for Arbitration Panels. Senior Arbitration Counsel will now be entitled to ₹3,600 per effective hearing, while Junior Counsel will receive ₹2,400.

[Read Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2026]

[Read Office Memorandum on CGC Fees]