Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)

Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)

The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is India's foreign intelligence agency. Its main role is to gather foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism, and counter-proliferation. The R&AW also gives advice to Indian policymakers and works on moving India's foreign strategic interests forward. It is also a part of ensuring the safety of India's nuclear program.

The in-charge of R&AW is a designated secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. They are under the direct charge of the Prime Minister and report to the National Security Advisor of India on administrative affairs.

Indian Forest Service (IFoS)

Indian Forest Service (IFoS)

The Indian Forest Service (IFoS) is one of the three civil services under All India Services. The key role of IFoS officers is to implement the National Forest Policy which ensures environmental stability is maintained in the country. Their role includes working towards the conservation and growth of the forests and wildlife in the region where they are posted.  Further, they are also responsible for dealing with any natural or manmade calamities which may endanger the forests or wildlife.

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Indian Police Service (IPS)

Indian Police Service (IPS)

The Indian Police Service (IPS) is one of three civil services under the All India Services. IPS Officers are appointed by the President of India. The Ministry of Home Affairs is authorized to control the cadre of IPS officers. In everyday life, they report to the state government of the state where they are posted. They are responsible for upholding law and order, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the police machinery. IPS officers are also responsible for dealing with accidents, inspecting smuggling, drug trafficking, human trafficking, maintaining border security, allaying and preventing terrorism, railway policing and keeping a watch on cyber-crimes. Additionally, they are responsible for the security of key individuals such as the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers.

The IPS is not a force in and of itself, instead, it plays the role of providing officers to the Central Armed Police Force as well as the State Police. In India, the State Police is primarily responsible for maintaining law and order. They are in-charge of local issues such as crime prevention and investigation. Additionally, they serve as the first responders in case of intense internal security challenges such as terrorist attacks. The Central Armed Police forces are experts at handling such conflicts and one of their key roles is to protect the country from any internal threats. They also protect the borders of India from any external aggression or infiltration.

The IPS form a small part of the total Indian police force which consists of 80% constables, 19% subordinate officers, and only 1% IPS officers. Each IPS officer serves in a particular designation. Following is a breakdown of designations according to the ranks (ranging highest to lowest) of an IPS Officer:

  • Director-General of Police (DG)
  • Additional Director General (ADG)
  • Inspector General (IG)
  • Deputy Inspector General (DIG)
  • Superintendent of Police (SP)
  • Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)

In addition, IPS officers are also known to lead India's strategic intelligence agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), and Intelligence Bureau (IB). The same is true for certain paramilitary forces like Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), etc.

Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is one of the three civil services under All India Services. It comes under the Indian Executive and forms a permanent part of the bureaucracy of the country.

Members of the IAS serve the Government of India and the state governments. They handle the administration and daily proceedings of the government. These officers are involved in both, policy drafting and on-ground execution. They oversee that the policies designed by the state governments and central government are implemented smoothly. At times, IAS Officers serve as the link between the citizens and the government.

Amongst the IAS, the highest position one can attain is that of the Cabinet Secretary. The following list gives a rank wise (ranked high to low) breakdown of the different IAS positions in which an officer can serve:

  • Cabinet Secretary
  • Chief Secretary of a State
  • Principal/Additional Secretary in the State/Central Sectretariat
  • District Magistrate/District Collector
  • Divisional Commissioner
  • Sub-Divisional Officer

All India Services

All India Services

The All India Services was formulated with the aim of strengthening India's administrative system. It is a centralized and permanent body that forms a part of the bureaucracy of India. The All India Services consist of three key civil services: Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS)

Officers in the All India Services support the Cabinet Ministers in the implementation of policies and development related schemes at the national and state level. They also play a key role in assisting the ministers with the drafting of the policies. Unlike ministers who are periodically re-elected, civil servants form a permanent part of the Executive and can only be removed from office upon retirement. Their role also involved in facilitating effective communication and coordination between different governance institutions in the country.

To qualify for any of the All India Service, a candidate has to pass the civil services examination organized by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). The central government is responsible for the recruitment of all qualifying officers. After recruitment, an officer might be placed at the central or at the state level.

 

 

 

Cabinet Secretary

Cabinet Secretary

The Cabinet Secretary holds the dual tag of being the top-most executive official as well as the most senior civil servant of the Government of India. They are the ex-officio head of the Civil Services Board and are also, the leader of the Cabinet Secretariat. Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary also heads the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and all civil services in India.  They are appointed for a fixed term of 2 years and come under the charge of the Prime Minister.

The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of business in ministries and various departments of the government. They are responsible for:

  1. Providing secretarial assistance to the Cabinet and its Committees
  2. Assisting the government in decision-making by ensuring coordination amongst ministers
  3. Ironing out differences amongst various ministries and departments
  4. Ensuring that key stakeholders such as the President and the Vice President are kept informed of the major activities of all ministries/departments.

Parliamentary Secretaries

Parliamentary Secretaries

Parliamentary Secretaries are members of parliament from the ruling party who are appointed to assist Cabinet Ministers with their duties. They act as a link between ministers and other parliamentarians. At times, a Parliamentary Secretary is also a Minister of State, in which case they are assigned to a government department and have the same entitlements as a Minister of State. In certain states such as Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Goa, MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly have been appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries by the government. There is conflict over the sanctity of the post of Parliamentary Secretary since it does not derive its powers from the constitutions. As per many High Courts. the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries has been declared unconstitutional and they have given judgements against these appointments.

Union Council of Ministers

Union Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers consists of individuals who are a part of the Cabinet, are Ministers of State (with independent charge), Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers. Each of these are briefly explained below:

  1. Cabinet Ministers: Ministers who attend and participate in all meetings of the Cabinet.
  2. Ministers of State with independent charge: Ministers who do not work under a Cabinet Minister. When a matter with regards to their department is on the cabinet's agenda, then they are invited to attend the meeting.
  3. Ministers of State: Ministers who are not independently heading any department and operate under a Cabinet Minister. The Cabinet Minister allots their work to them.
  4. Deputy Ministers: Ministers who work under a Cabinet Minister or under a Minister of State with independent charge. The Minister who they report to is responsible for assigning work to them.

The Council of Ministers are headed by the Prime Minister. They are collectively accountable to the Lok Sabha. All the decisions of the Council of Ministers which link to administrative matters or proposals for legislations have to be communicated by the Prime Minister to the President.

Prime Minister

Prime Minister

The functioning of the Union Executive of India is headed by the Prime Minister. The key executive powers of the government are assigned to the Prime Minister, while the President serves as the nominal head. The Prime Minister plays the key link between the Council of Ministers and the President as well as the Parliament.

The Prime Minister exercises their powers in various manners: heads and controls the Council of Ministers, leader of ruling party, leadership of the Lok Sabha, command over the bureaucratic wing,  and responsible for projecting as the national leader on international avenues and during foreign visits.

Since India follows a parliamentary system, the Prime Minister becomes the most senior member of cabinet in the Union Executive. They have the power to select members of the cabinet. The Prime Minister is the presiding member and Chairperson of the cabinet with the power to allocate posts to members within the government. The Council of Ministers comes into existence only once the Prime Minister takes the oath of office and they can not continue to exist without the Prime Minister.

Vice President

Vice President

The second-highest constitutional position in the Union Executive belongs to the Vice President of India. In the absence of the President, the Vice President represent the nation. They take charge as the acting President in case the President resigns, is impeached or removed from office.

Similar to the President, the Vice President also serves in a dual capacity under both, the parliament and the legislature. Their key legislative function is to serve as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and they are responsible for presiding over meetings of Rajya Sabha.

The appointment of the Vice President is done indirectly through the members of an electoral college comprising members of both the houses of the parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. The voting process is done through a secret ballot. To qualify, one has to be a citizen of India and can not be less than 35 years old. They should also be eligible for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha. A Vice President serves a 5 year term in office and they can be re-elected.