Table of Precedence

The order or table of precedence is a list of dignitaries in an order of their rank for ceremonial purposes and has no role in the government functioning. It is neither an order of succession nor does it have any application in any parliamentary business .

It is made by the President secretariat and maintained by the ministry of Home affairs.

If in the table or order of precedence there are multiple members of the similar rank then they are listed in an alphabetical order and the order of precedence is based on the date of entry to that particular office or rank .

The table of precedence of India 

The table of precedence goes till rank 25 .

Rank 1 

• The highest rank in the table of precedence is of the President of the country so the current President Ram Nath Kovind is at the top of the table.

Rank 2

• The Vice president follows the president in the order ,Vice President Venkaiah Naidu 

Rank 3

• The Prime minister of the country – Narendra Modi

Rank 4 

• The governor’s of various states in their respective states .

Rank 5

• Former presidents of the country like Pratibha Patel 

Rank 5A

• Deputy Prime minister of the country – currently nobody occupies the rank 

Rank 6

• Chief justice of India – N.V Ramana

• Speaker of Lok sabha- Om Birla 

Rank 7 

• Cabinet ministers of the government of India

• The national security advisor – Ajit Doval

• Chief ministers

• Deputy chairman of Niti Aayog

• Former Prime minister

• Leader of opposition in Lok sabha and Rajya sabha

Rank 7A

• Bharat Ratna awardees – Sachin Tendulkar,Amartya Sen

Rank 8

• High commissioners and Ambassadors of Commonwealth countries.

• Chief ministers when outside their state

• Governors when outside their state

Rank 9

• Justices of SC Of India

Rank 9A

• Chairman of UPSC

• Chief Election commissioner of india

• Comptroller and Auditor general of India – GC Murmu 

Rank 10

• Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha 

•  Deputy Chief Ministers of States 

•  Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha 

•  Members of the Planning Commission 

• Ministers of State of the Union

Rank 11

• Attorney General of India – KK Venugopal

•  Cabinet Secretary – Rajeev Gauba

•  Lieutenant Governors within their respective Union Territories

Rank 12

• Chiefs of Staff holding the rank of full General or equivalent like the chief of defence staff , chief of Army Staff ,chief of navy staff ,chief of air staff.

Rank 13

• Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary accredited to India.

Rank 14

• Chairmen and Speakers of State Legislatures within their respective States. 

•  Chief Justices of High Courts within their respective jurisdictions

Rank 15

• Cabinet Ministers in States within their respective States 

• Chief Ministers of Union Territories 

• Chief Executive Councillor of Delhi

•  Deputy Ministers of the Union

Rank 16

• Officiating Chiefs of Staff holding the rank of Lieutenant General or equivalent rank.

Rank 17

• Chairman of  Central Administrative Tribunal,Minorities Commission , National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes 

• Chief Justices of High Courts outside their respective jurisdictions 

• Puisne Judges of High Courts within their respective jurisdictions

Rank 18

• Cabinet Ministers in States( outside their respective States )

•  Chairmen and Speakers of State Legislatures( outside their States )

•  Chairman of  Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission 

•  Deputy Chairman and Deputy Speakers of State Legislatures within their respective States 

• Ministers of State in States within their respective States 

• Ministers of Union Territories and Executive Councillors, Delhi, within their respective Union Territories. 

• Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and Chairman of Delhi Metropolitan Council 

Rank 19

• Chief Commissioners of Union Territories

•  Deputy Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and

• Deputy Chairman of metropolitan Council Delhi

Rank 20

• Deputy Chairman and Deputy Speakers of State Legislatures, (outside their states)

•  Ministers of State in States outside their respective States 

•  Puisne Judges of High Courts outside their respective jurisdictions.

Rank 21

• Members of Parliament. 

• Army Commanders/ Vice-Chief of the Army Staff or equivalent in other services 

• Chief Secretaries to State Governments within their respective States 

• Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities 

• Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes 

• Members, Minorities Commission 

• Members, National Commission for Scheduled Castes 

• Members, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes 

• Officers of the rank of full General or equivalent rank 

• Secretaries to the Government of India (including officers holding this office ex-officio). 

• Secretary, Minorities Commission. 

• Secretary, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission. 

• Secretary to the President. 

• Secretary to the Prime Minister. 

• Secretary, Rajya Sabha/Lok Sabha 

• Solicitor General 

• Vice-Chairman, Central Administrative Tribunal

Rank 22

• Deputy Ministers in State (outside their respective States)

Rank 23

• Army Commanders/ Vice-Chief of the Army Staff or equivalent in other services 

• Chief Secretaries to State Governments within their respective States 

• Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities 

• Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes 

• Members Of Minorities Commission 

• Membersof National Commission for Scheduled Castes 

• Members of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes 

• Officers of the rank of full General or equivalent rank 

• Secretaries to the Government of India (including officers holding this office ex-officio). 

• Secretary of Minorities Commission, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission,

• Secretary to the President followed by the Prime Minister. 

• Secretary of RS / LS

• Solicitor General 

•  Vice-Chairman of CAT 

Rank 24

• Additional Secretaries to the Government of India. 

• Additional Solicitor General 

• Advocate Generals of States. 

• Chief Ministers of Union Territories and Chief Executive Councillor, Delhi( outside their respective Union Territories )

• Chief Secretaries of State Governments (outside their states)

• Deputy CAG

• Deputy Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories . 

• Director of CBI

• Director General of  BSF

• Director General of CRPF

• Director of  Intelligence Bureau – IB

• Lieutenant Governors  Members, Central Administrative Tribunal 

• Members of Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission 

• Members of  UPSC

• Ministers of Union Territories and Executive Councillors Delhi

• Principal Staff Officers of the Armed Forces of the rank of major General or equivalent rank 

• Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and Chairman of Delhi, Metropolitan Council, outside their respective Union Territories

Rank 25

• Joint Secretaries to the Government of India 

• Officers of the rank of Major-General or equivalent rank

Conclusion 

The order of precedence is a hierarchy of individuals of offices in order of their ranks for ceremonial purposes and has no legal authority . This order is not an order of succession post the president and has no role in day to day business of the house. The order has no legal authority and is established by the President via the president secretariat and is maintained by the Ministry of Home affairs. The President occupies the top spot in the order of precedence followed by the Vice President , Prime minister and so on.