Who is the Chief Secretary of India?
The Chief Secretary is one of the highest officials of the Indian executive system and the senior-most civil servant of the Indian government is appointed as Chief Secretary. He/She is the ex-officio head of the State Secretariat, the state cadre Indian Administrative Service, the state Civil Services Board, and all civil services that come under the control of the state government. He/She is the principal advisor to the Chief Minister on all issues related to state administration.
The person who is appointed as the Chief Secretary is always severed as an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The Chief Secretary is the seniority-based position in the state administration that is given 23rd ranking on the Indian order of precedence.
Appointment of Chief Secretary
Chief Secretaries is appointed by the Chief Minister of state.
IAS officers are appointed as State Chief Secretaries.
The Chief Minister after short-listing the names can have an opinion of the Union government related to the appointment but this consultation is not mandatory.
The Chief Minister may also consult his/her ministerial colleagues or the cabinet but this will be his or her.
Seniority cum merit criterion is applied in short-listing as it is a selection post and this fact is also considered to select the politically acceptable senior candidate.
Usually, these three factors are considered: Seniority, service record, and Evaluation of the Chief Minister.
Role of Chief Secretary of India
The role played by the Chief Secretary of India can be classified in two ways. The first is in state and the second is in union territories. Let us understand the role played by the chief secretary of respective state and union territories.
States: The administrative head of the state administration and executive head secretariat of the state is the chief secretary. He/ She is provided with the highest position in the state administrative hierarchy. The control of the Chief Secretary is extended to all the secretariat departments. His responsibilities are to guide, lead and control the whole entire administrative apparatus of the state.
The Chief Secretary of the state provides his/her services to the state as the ex-officio Chairman of the State Civil Service Board. The State Civil Service Board can recommend, the transfer/postings of officers of All India Services and State Civil Services in the state.
Additional Chief Secretaries or Special Chief Secretaries can assist Chief Secretaries, who are the administrative heads of departments they are assigned to. The list of current Chief Secretaries such as chief secretary Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam is given along with the IAS Batch.
Union Territories: Administrators governs the union territories in India which means Chief Secretaries are absent. In these territories, the Union Government appoints an Adviser to the Administrator. The union territories of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry, have been given statehood partially, also have Chief Secretaries. The chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Puducherry is selected by the Chief Minister and is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
Most advisers to the Administrators and Chief Secretaries of Union territories are posted junior in rank in comparison to the Chief Secretaries of the States. The office is given generally are of the rank Joint Secretary to Government of India and its equivalents. Chief Secretary Delhi and Chandigarh, the highest civil servant is either of the position of Secretary to Government of India or Additional Secretary to Government of India. The list of current Chief Secretaries or Advisor to Administrators of Union territories is given below.
Did you Know?
The highest post for IAS officers is the Cabinet Secretary (Central) and Chief Secretary (State).
Lord Stanley was the first secretary of state in India. He was the minister of the British Cabinet.
Conclusion
Hence we can say that the chief secretary is important for maintaining the administration in the state. He or she is an experienced person so knows how to deal with different situations. The Chief Secretary performs his/her duties as the head of the state civil services. The role of the Chief Secretary is important to maintaining the functioning of the department of state and union territories.
FAQs on The Chief Secretary of India
1. What is the primary role of a Chief Secretary in a state government?
The Chief Secretary is the senior-most civil servant and the administrative head of a state government in India. They act as the principal advisor to the Chief Minister and the state cabinet, ensuring the effective implementation of policies, and maintaining coordination among various government departments. This position is the highest a civil servant can hold at the state level.
2. Who appoints the Chief Secretary of a state and what is the process?
The Chief Secretary of a state is chosen and appointed by the state's Chief Minister. Although it is a convention to consult the Union Government, it is not mandatory. The selection is typically based on a combination of factors including seniority within the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), service record, and the Chief Minister's confidence in the officer's abilities.
3. What are the major powers and functions of a Chief Secretary?
The Chief Secretary performs a wide range of functions critical to state administration. Key responsibilities include:
Principal Advisor: Serving as the main advisor to the Chief Minister on all administrative matters.
Head of State Cabinet Secretariat: Managing the agenda for cabinet meetings and ensuring the recording and implementation of its decisions.
Chief Coordinator: Ensuring inter-departmental coordination and resolving conflicts between different ministries.
Head of Civil Services: Acting as the ex-officio Chairman of the State Civil Service Board, overseeing matters of appointment, transfer, and promotion of senior state officers.
Crisis Manager: Leading the state's administrative response during emergencies like natural disasters or law and order situations.
4. How does a state's Chief Secretary differ from the Union Government's Cabinet Secretary?
While both are top bureaucratic posts, their jurisdictions are different. The Chief Secretary is the administrative head of a specific state government. In contrast, the Cabinet Secretary is the highest-ranking civil servant for the Union Government of India. The Cabinet Secretary heads the Cabinet Secretariat, provides direct assistance to the Prime Minister, and is the head of all civil services in the country, placing them at the top of the entire administrative hierarchy in India.
5. Is there a single 'Chief Secretary of India'?
No, there is no single post titled 'Chief Secretary of India'. The position of Chief Secretary is specific to each state and union territory with a legislature. Each state has its own Chief Secretary who serves as its administrative head. The equivalent and senior-most post at the national or central level is the Cabinet Secretary of India, who oversees the functioning of the central government's bureaucracy.
6. Why is the Chief Secretary often called the 'linchpin' of state administration?
The Chief Secretary is called the 'linchpin' because they connect the political executive (the Chief Minister and the cabinet) with the administrative machinery (the bureaucracy). They translate political decisions into administrative action, ensure smooth communication between departments, and provide stability and continuity to the government, especially during political transitions. Their central coordinating role ensures that all parts of the state government work together cohesively.
7. What is the connection between the UPSC exam and the post of a Chief Secretary?
The post of a Chief Secretary is the apex position in a state's bureaucracy, and it is exclusively held by senior officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The journey to becoming an IAS officer begins by clearing the Civil Services Examination, which is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Therefore, aspiring to become a Chief Secretary starts with successfully passing the UPSC exam and joining the IAS cadre.
