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