Question 45 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Polity and
Governance

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State.
2. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Neither 1 nor 2

Strategy: - Recall the appointing authority for the Chief Secretary to evaluate Statement 1.
- Access knowledge on the tenure of the Chief Secretary to evaluate Statement 2.
- Conclude on the correctness of both statements based on the recalled facts.

Key Info: **Chief Secretary of a State**
The Chief Secretary is the administrative head of the State Secretariat and the state bureaucracy. This is the top-most position in the civil service of any state in India.
**Appointment:** The Chief Secretary is appointed by the Chief Minister of the respective state. This is primarily a political appointment, as the Chief Minister chooses the individual with whom they can work most effectively. The Governor's role is largely ceremonial in this context, acting on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
**Tenure:** The Chief Secretary does not have a fixed tenure. They usually serve at the pleasure of the Chief Minister. While recommendations have been made by bodies like the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) for a minimum tenure (e.g., three to four years) to ensure stability and independence, these are generally not statutorily binding and actual tenure can vary based on political will and individual performance.
**Functions:** The Chief Secretary acts as the principal advisor to the Chief Minister on all administrative matters, serves as the head of the State Civil Services, and is often the Chairman of the State Civil Services Board (if constituted). They play a crucial role in inter-departmental coordination, policy implementation, and crisis management within the state administration.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Both 1 and 2

Consider the following statements: The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State.

The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?