Powers of Cabinet Secretary

India is the largest democracy, and it has the longest constitution written, keeping every person in mind. The needs and growth of every section of India were considered while framing the living document. Indian democracy has three major components known as an executive, judiciary and legislative, assigned different aspects of the country. Today, the discussion will revolve around legislation, including the cabinet and cabinet secretary. To get a hold of what a cabinet secretary is, one should read about the cabinet.

Cabinet

The cabinet is the core of the council of ministers formed in the government, responsible for running the country and representing its people. Cabinet consists of the ministers and leaders who hold the key sectors of the government such as home ministry, finance ministry, defence ministry, Railways,e.t.c. The cabinet takes all the major decisions as to the actual decision-making body. It advises the prime minister regarding the plan and direction of the country’s growth. It is headed by the prime minister, who is also the leader of the ruling government. Now that the cabinet concept is clear, further reading can be done on the cabinet secretariat.

Cabinet Secretariat

The core of administration in the country lies with authority known as the cabinet secretariat. The two major responsibilities of the cabinet secretariat are defined under a transaction of business rules, 1961 and allocation of business, 1961. The major reason behind the formation of this body is the need for smooth maintenance in all the functions of the government. The core ministries, namely the ministry of defence, home affairs, external affairs, finance, and the prime minister’s office, reside in the same cabinet secretariat building. This is why it is known as the core of administration in the country.

The cabinet secretariat is a spectacular infrastructure designed by Herbert Baker in style inspired by Rajputana architecture, making the building airy and cool. The building also has a dome-like structure that maintains the temperature and acts as a relief from the scorching heat of Indian weather. The whole secretariat building combines two buildings on the north and south of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. 

The southern part consists of the ministry of defence, and the ministry of external affairs and the north portion consists of the ministry of finance and the ministry of home affairs. Besides the major offices of various ministries, there are other important components in the cabinet secretariat. The office of cabinet secretary, head of research and analysis wing of India and the NIC  cell resides.

Cabinet Secretary

The Cabinet secretary is the head of all civil services in India and is the senior-most IAS officer of the country. The position, as it is known, dates today back before independence when it used to be a nominal representative assigned with me grew task of paperwork. Still, over the period, it gradually progressed to become one of the most powerful positions in the country. A cabinet secretary has many responsibilities, and the person holding the position is also the ex-officio head of the civil services. 

There have been many major amendments and additions to the responsibilities of the cabinet secretary since independence, and now it is the common secretary of the cabinet secretariat. The first Cabinet secretary of India was N.R Pillai, and the person holding the position currently is Rajiv Gauba, who has been in office since 2019. At present, the residence of the cabinet secretary is 32, Prithviraj Road, New Delhi and the salary paid is the 18th level pay.

Powers and Responsibilities of The Cabinet Secretary

The Cabinet Secretary is the most senior and prominent IAS officer in the country. He is directly accountable to the prime ministers and heads various country authorities. Therefore, the cabinet secretary discharged various responsibilities, which are discussed below.

The Cabinet secretary is answerable to the prime minister and the president and vice-president of the country where he should pass on all the major information of the decisions made by the cabinet and its activities to the head of the country.

The position of cabinet secretary is of major significance because of the major role it plays between all the authorities and ministries in the cabinet secretariat. It is the common link of smooth functioning and is not assigned to a specific ministry or even the prime minister’s office. The secretary clarifies all the communication in case of inter cabinet disputes or any confusion.

There are major components of the country such as the cabinet and the military, RAW and the civil wing of the country, which also ensures that all the sectors of government can be called at once and the core of communication lies with the head of the secretariat.

The cabinet secretary is also the head of all civil services in India. It is his responsibility to ensure unbiased and disciplined functioning of the most coveted bureaucratic position in the country.

A cabinet secretary is an advisor to the cabinet and the prime minister. He is the senior-most officer who advises and gives recommendations on various other positions in the government. Besides this, a cabinet secretary acts as the head of the cabinet secretariat and chief of secretaries of states. 

Conclusion

The position of a cabinet secretary is the most desirable and powerful in the Indian civil services. It is the link between all the cabinets and provides a major hand in the smooth functioning of the government.