Joint secretary to the Government of India

Joint Secretary to the Government of India (often abbreviated as JS, GoI or Union Joint Secretary or Joint Secretary to Union of India) is a post under the Central Staffing Scheme[3] and the third highest non-political executive rank[4] in the Government of India. The authority for creation of this post solely rests with the Cabinet of India.[5]

Union Joint Secretary
Kendrīya Sanyukt Sachiv
Emblem of India
Flag of India
Government of India
Reports to
Seat
AppointerAppointments Committee of the Cabinet
Term length
(Term can be extended).
Formation1920 (1920)
Succession26th (on the Indian order of precedence.)
Salary₹144,200 (US$1,800) - ₹218,200 (US$2,700) monthly[1][2]
WebsiteOfficial Website
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Joint secretary is mostly a career civil servant and is a government official of high seniority.[1][6][7][8] The civil servants who hold this rank and post are either from All India Services (on deputation; on tenure, after empanelment) 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 the Government of India, a joint secretary is the administrative head of a wing in a department.[9] Joint secretaries — on deputation — can hold senior positions at the United Nations, such as India's permanent representative to UNESCO,[10] Conference on Disarmament.[11]

Joint secretaries in the Union Government[12][13][14] is analogous to Major General[15] and equivalent ranks[16] in the Indian Armed Forces and are listed as such in the Order of Precedence.[17][18][19][20] In the Department of Military Affairs of the Ministry of Defence, an officer from all the three armed forces of the rank of Major General and equivalent[21] is currently designated as Joint Secretary (Army/Navy/AirForce).[22][23]

The Special Protection Group is sometimes headed by a Inspector General rank holder,[24][25] who is designated as Joint Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat. A Principal Secretary in a state government can be deputed/posted as Joint Secretary in the center[26][27][28] and a person in this rank can also hold the position of the Chief Secretary/Administrator of a Union Territory. Joint secretaries (GOI) rank 26th on Order of Precedence of India.[17][18][19][20]

History

The post of joint secretary in the Government of India was created in the 1920s. The salary of a member in this rank and post was fixed at Rs. 36,000 per annum in the 1930s.[29] The salaries of Joint Secretary in Government of India during the British Raj was same to the Chief Secretary of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, Punjab and Burma.[lower-alpha 1] As per Warrant of Precedence of 1905,[lower-alpha 1] joint secretaries in the Government of India were listed together with secretaries to the Government of India and ranked above of chief secretaries of provincial governments.[lower-alpha 1] Before the creation of post/rank of Additional secretary to the Government of India, Joint Secretary was the second highest post/rank in Indian Civil Service (British India).

In 1937, the Central Secretariat contained only seven joint secretaries,[30] who were all members of the Imperial Civil Service. However, by 1946, the number had increased to twenty-five.

According to A. D. Gorwala, ICS, "The joint secretaries ought to in reality be what the name implies, namely secretaries for the subject entrusted to them and joined to a more senior secretary for the convenience of administrative work."[31] Sir Richard Tottenham, ICS had once expressed "In my opinion there is, or should be, no distinction of function, but only of pay between a joint and an additional Secretary. Additional and joint secretaries should not be either cheap secretaries or expensive deputy secretaries."[31]

During the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru as the prime minister, the then Prime Minister's Secretariat was headed by a joint secretary.[32] Currently, in Prime Minister's Office (India), the private secretary(ies) to Prime Minister of India is always in the rank and post of Joint Secretary to Government of India.

Powers, responsibilities and postings
The organizational structure of a department of the Government of India.
C. H. Bhabha with a Secretary and a few Joint Secretaries to Government of India in 1947.
U. Win with a Joint Secretary to Government of India in 1947.

Joint secretary is the overall in charge with the necessary measure of independent functioning and responsibility of the wing of the department allocated and entrusted to him.[33] A joint secretary in charge of Administration also exercises all administrative powers as head of the department wing of the ministry/department.[34]

Additional secretaries and joint secretaries are responsible for filing all affidavits and responses before the Supreme Court of India.[35][36]

The Prime Minister of India is the final authority on posting and transfer of officers of joint secretary level.[37] Joint secretaries report to their divisional/departmental additional secretary, departmental secretary and ministerial/departmental cabinet minister.

Position

In the Union government, the members head department wings in the departments and ministries of the Union government,[34] and hold positions such as chief vigilance officer (CVO),[38] chief administrative officer (CAO), emissaries in the foreign missions/embassies (ambassadors and ministers),[39] Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Director General of Civil Aviation of India,[40][41] director general of National Literacy Mission Authority, economic advisers, advisors of TRAI, Joint Directors of CBI,[42] additional directors general (AIR and Doordarshan),[43] board members of Staff Selection Commission of India[44] commissioners of Taxes and Police, chief engineers in central departments.

They also hold the post of Social Secretary and Press Secretary to President of India.

Government nominated Board members in the Central Public Sector Enterprises/Public Sector Undertakings are either of the rank of additional secretary or joint secretary.[45]

International equivalency

The rank of Joint Secretary in Government of India is analogous and equivalent to a rank in Senior Executive Service and Senior Foreign Service in United States.[lower-alpha 2] The rank is equivalent to Assistant Under Secretary in Senior Civil Service of Her Majesty's Home Civil Service.[lower-alpha 3]

Emolument, accommodation and perks
An Indian Diplomatic Passport and an Official Passport generally issued to Joint Secretary (GOI).

All joint secretaries to the Government of India are eligible for a diplomatic passport. They are allotted Type-V (D-II and D-I) and Type-VI (C-II) apartments in areas like New Moti Bagh across Delhi by Ministry of Urban Development's Directorate of Estates.[46]

The salary and emolument in this rank is equivalent[16] to Major General and equivalent ranks in Indian Armed Forces.[16][1]

Joint Secretary, GoI monthly pay and allowances
Base Salary as per 7th Pay Commission (Per month)Level on Pay Matrix Sources
₹144,200 (US$1,800) (Minimum Pay) to ₹218,200 (US$2,700) (Maximum Pay) Level 14 [1][2]

Reforms and challenges

In 2009, 20th Governor of Reserve Bank of India Bimal Jalan had voiced for posts at the level of joint secretary to be opened up to outside competition.[47]

Non-IAS civil services have complained to Government of India because of lack of empanelment in the rank/post of joint secretary on numerous occasions.[1][6][7][48][49][50] Still, According to the Seventh Central Pay Commission of India, IAS officers hold 249 out of 341 positions of Joint Secretary in the Government of India.[1] In 2021, as per media reports the share of IAS at Joint Secretary in Government of India has fallen to 33%.[51] Since 2017–18, IAS officers holding JS rank have now become a minority in almost all central government offices.[51]

In 2015, Government of India modified joint secretary-level empanelment process to ensure greater uniformity, consistency and transparency.[52] Under the prime ministership of Narendra Modi, however, the situation has slightly altered, choices for civil servants being appointed to this rank and post were from non IAS cadre.[53][54] Almost half the choices for the position have been given to Central Civil Services and All India Services (excluding IAS).[53][54]

In June 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced opening up 10 posts of joint secretary (GOI) rank/post in several departments to experts in several fields through lateral entry. In 2019, Government of India short listed 89 candidates from 6000+ candidates,[55] with an initial shortlist success rate of 1.4%.

In 2021, Government of India announced opening up 3 posts of joint secretary (GOI) rank/post in several departments.[56]

Notes
  1. As per published records and book named "The India List and India Office List 1905" as published by India Office and India Office Records.
  2. As per rank-post analogous and equivalent to Major General in Armed Forces.
  3. As per rank-post analogous and equivalent to Major General in Armed Forces.

References
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  2. Biswas, Shreya, ed. (29 June 2016). "7th Pay Commission cleared: What is the Pay Commission? How does it affect salaries?". India Today. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  3. "The Central Staffing Scheme" (PDF). Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. January 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. "Retd IAS Officer Moves SC Against Lateral Entry To Post Of Jt Secys". Livelaw.in. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  5. "Only Cabinet can create Joint Secretary, above level posts". Press Trust of India. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  6. Tikku, Aloke (15 January 2016). "Parity between IAS and non-IAS? The IAS will get to decide". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  7. Dastidar, Avishek G (14 January 2017). "Alleging bias, non-IAS officers petition PM Modi". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  8. "Sahai appointed Joint Secretary NSCS: ACC Appointment". Greater Kashmir. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  9. "Archive: JS-level posts vacant at Centre, few takers". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  10. Cherian, Dilip (6 November 2016). "Dilli Ka Babu: Permanent Representative of India in Unesco an IAS post". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  11. "Pankaj Sharma appointed India's ambassador to UN Conference on Disarmament". The Economic Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  12. "Part I of the Constitution of India- The Union and its territory - Article 1" (PDF). Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  13. "Part XIV of the Constitution of India- Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits - Article 300" (PDF). Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  14. "Part XIV of the Constitution of India- Services under the Union and the States - Article 312(2)" (PDF). Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  15. Dutta, Sujjan (28 October 2017). "Govt 'clarifies', soldiers upset". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
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  17. "Order of Precedence" (PDF). Rajya Sabha. President's Secretariat. 26 July 1979. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
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  21. "Uniformed officers appointed as additional secretary and joint secretaries in department of military affairs". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  22. "Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence (India)". Ministry of Defence (India). Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  23. "CDS wants appointment of military officers as joint secretary in defence ministry". The Print. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  24. "NDA appoints second SPG chief within 15 months". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  25. "MHA calls Rahul's remark on former SPG chief 'baseless'". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  26. "Three more IAS officers from state posted as joint secretaries in Modi govt". The Indian Express. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  27. "Yogi Adiyanath seeks former Gorakhpur DM as Principal Secretary". The Indian Express. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  28. "Awanish Kumar Awasthi appointed Principal Secretary to UP CM". Business Standard. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
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  31. Jayapalan, N. (2001). Indian Administration 2 Vols. Set. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. p. 668. ISBN 9788171569212.
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  38. "No foreign job for babus who fail to join as CVOs: Centre". The Economic Times. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  39. "MEA Moves its Men, Post-Haste". The Sunday Standard. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  40. "Civil aviation ministry embraces new year with top-level changes". The Sunday Standard. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  41. "Joint secretary Kumar proposed as new DGCA". The Times of India. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
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  45. "CHAPTER II PERSONNEL POLICIES (b) Composition of Board of Directors" (PDF). Department of Public Enterprises, Government of India. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
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  50. "Need Pay Parity With IAS Officers, Say Officials Of 20 Civil Services". NDTV. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  51. "Influence Of IAS Lobby Wanes At Centre As Joint Secretary Share Falls From Virtual Monopoly To 33 Per Cent". The Economic Times. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  52. "Joint Secretary-Level Empanelment Process Modified". The Sen Times. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  53. "Non-IAS officers are top choices for Modi government for the crucial Joint Secretary positions". The Economic Times. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  54. Roche, Elizabeth; Aggarwal, Mayank (14 July 2016). "Govt appoints 28 officers, half non IAS, to joint secretary level posts". Live Mint. HT Media Ltd. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
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  56. "Not much enthusiasm for Modi govt's latest IAS lateral entry push, just about 1,200 apply". Retrieved 12 May 2021.

Bibliography
  • Maheshwari, S.R. (2000). Indian Administration (6th ed.). New Delhi: Orient Blackswan Private Ltd. ISBN 9788125019886.
  • Kirk-Greene, A. (2000). Britain's Imperial Administrators, 1858-1966. New York City: Springer. ISBN 9780230286320.
  • Jayapalan, N. (2001). Indian Administration 2 Vols. Set. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. ISBN 9788171569212.
  • Mehta, Dalpat Singh (1968). Handbook Of Public Relations In India. New Delhi: Allied Publishers. ISBN 978-8170233343.
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