Central Secratariat

Occupying a key position in Indian administration, the Central Secretariat refers to the collection of departments or ministries in the Indian Central Government. Before disposing of a case, each secretarial department must consult other departments concerning the issue. It is not any particular minister. Various secretaries of the government are involved as administrative heads. 

It forms the backbone of all administrative work, providing for functionary staff and permanent bureaucracy in multiple offices of the Government of India, including union government ministries and cabinet secretariat besides Central Secretariat. Created under the power of Article 309 from the Constitution Of India, these administrative groups are governed by the Central Secretariat rules of 1962.

Role of a Central Secretariat

• The job of a minister is to make policies based on available data. It is the job of a secretariat to help ministers access certain data and enable them in formulating governmental policies.

• Certain drafts are introduced in a legislature made by the secretariat. It contains information used to ask as well as answer parliamentary questions in the parliamentary house and parliamentary committees.

• A central secretariat is an integral communication channel between the government and its agencies. 

• Ministers can consult a secretariat to form a comprehensive viewpoint. They do this by inquiring with other departments such as the Ministry of Finance if a financial concern arises.

• They ensure that the decisions and policies of the government are being efficiently carried out in the offices.

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Functions of Central Secretariat

• The Central Secretariat service system focuses on two principles

• The distinction between policy formulation and policy implementation

• The central secretariat is not to undertake the execution of policies unless made compulsory due to the lack of official agencies performing assigned tasks. They assist ministers in the discharge of their parliamentary and policy making functions. A secretariat can also frame rules, principles of procedure, and legislation

• Contributions to program formulation and secretarial planning

• Budgetary control of expenditure as per ministry department activities

• Helping in the coordination of various departments and ministers at the central level

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The secretariat and executive agencies

There are six patterns of relationship developed between the central secretariat and executive agencies:

• A complete merger between the heads of the executive department and ministry. Operational or commercial organisation undertakings are held with this pattern. For example, the posts and telegraphs board and the ministry of communication

• A particular senior officer acts as the head of the executing department for adding much responsibility to the formulation of policies and their implementation

• Merging of the executive department and the ministry’s office, with a common office serving both officers of the executive office and secretariat

• The executive department and ministry have a separate office, but a common file Bureau located in the executive agency organisation. For example, the Air Force headquarters and the ministry of defence

• There are separate departments, but the head of the executive office has an ex officio secretariat status. This is done to save time and paperwork

• Executive agencies and ministries have distinct offices but establish a line of communication through self-contained letters or in any other form

Central Secretariat recruitment

Previously, India used to follow three methods of central secretariat recruitment. 

• 50% of the department members were recruited directly through civil services examinations conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)

• 25% were recruited through annual department examinations

• The remaining 25% were promoted from other positions

The above modes of recruitment were stopped in 2003. Currently, 50% are employed through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination held by UPSC, and the remaining 50% by seniority

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Eligibility Conditions

A candidate planning to sit for UPSC examinations with central secretariat service in mind must satisfy the following conditions:

• Age: At least 21 years of age, and 28 years at most. Since the examination is held on the 1st of August, they should have turned 21 before that

• Nationality: Citizen of India

• Educational qualification: Must hold a degree in any stream, from any University which has been incorporated by the State Legislature or an Act of the Central Legislature. They can also hold a degree from other educational institutions or be declared universities under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act

Students from foreign universities can also apply, provided that it has been approved by the central government and recognized for the same purpose. Some Foreign Degrees from universities might not be approved and can be utilised only at the discretion of the Commission.

Reasons for penalty

A candidate is subjected to penalty for misconduct and considered guilty by the Commission under the following circumstances;

• Utilisation of unfair means in the examination hall

• Submission of tampered or fabricated documents

• Procuring impersonation by a person or impersonating

• Obtaining unfair support for his candidature

• Suppression of material information or making false statements

• Misbehaving against an examinee or fellow candidate under criminal grounds in examination halls

Conclusion

The role of a secretariat is not simply policymaking but also implementing a provided list of cases and acting as a channel of communication between various ministries and departments. The roles have differed since before the complete establishment of the British government. As per the Lewellyn-Smith Committee, Montague Chelmsford Reforms had established the service as one of its off-shoots. However, there were no reforms introduced since the last change in 2003 regarding the central secretariat recruitment.

UPSC conducts major examinations for employing individuals, not only as Central Secretariats but also for Civil Services (IAS, IFS, IPS) and other Group A and Group B departments. Start preparing today!