Secretary to Government of India

Secretary (abbreviated as Secretary GOI) is a post and a rank under the Central Stafﬁng Scheme of the Government of India. The authority for creation of this post solely rests with Cabinet of India. This post is equal to Permanent Secretary, a post under Senior Civil Service Group in the United Kingdom or an officer in the Senior Executive Service in the United States.

The position holder is a career civil servant and a government official of high seniority. The members who hold this rank are either from All India Services (Deputation on tenure) or Central Civil Services (Group A; on empanelment). All promotions and appointments to this rank and post are directly made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet of India.

In the functioning of Government of India, Secretary is the administrative head of the Ministry/Department. In the state governments and Union Territories, they also hold senior positions such as Chief Secretary.

Secretaries in federal government of India is analogous to Lieutenant General (Vice Chief of Army Staff/Army Commanders) and equivalent ranks in Indian Armed Forces and are listed as such in the Order of Precedence