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{{Short description|Senior government rank and civil service post in the Government of India}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Union Additional Secretary
| flag = Flag of India.svg
| flagsize = 110px
| flagcaption = [[Flag of India]]
| insignia = Emblem_of_India.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| insigniasize = 80px
| insigniacaption = [[State Emblem of India]]
| reports_to = {{hlist |[[Secretary to the Government of India]] | [[Union Council of Ministers]] | [[Prime Minister of India]]}}
| residence =
| appointer_qualified =
| inaugural =
| formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1940}}{{efn|The post of Additional Secretary emerged in British India during the early 1940s, mainly as a response to increased administrative complexity during World War II. It became more formally institutionalized after India’s independence in 1947, as part of the standardized Central Secretariat framework.}}
| salary = {{INRConvert|182200}} '''(Minimum Pay)''' to {{INRConvert|224100}} '''(Maximum Pay)'''
| website =
| department = [[Government of India]]
| native_name =
| member_of = Committee of Secretaries on Administration
| termlength_qualified = Term extendable
| body =
| image =
| incumbent =
}}
'''Additional Secretary''' (often abbreviated as '''AS, GoI''' or Union Additional Secretary or Additional Secretary to [[Government of India]]) is a post and a rank under the Central Staffing Scheme of the [[Government of India]].<ref name="CSS">{{cite web|url=http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02eod/36_77_94_EO(SM-I).pdf|title=The Central Staffing Scheme|date=January 1996|publisher=[[Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions]]|accessdate=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310222757/http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02eod/36_77_94_EO(SM-I).pdf|archive-date=10 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The authority for creation of this post solely rests with [[Cabinet of India]].<ref name="Joint Secretary Cabinet India">{{cite web|url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/8615222_Only-Cabinet-can-create-Joint-Secretary--above-level-posts.html|title=Only Cabinet can create Joint Secretary, above level posts|publisher=[[Press Trust of India]]|accessdate=18 April 2017|archive-date=15 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515100628/https://www.ptinews.com/news/8615222_Only-Cabinet-can-create-Joint-Secretary--above-level-posts.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Additional secretary is mostly a [[Civil Services of India|career civil servant]],<ref name="7 Pay Commission Report" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/alleging-bias-non-ias-officers-petition-pm-modi-4473316/|title=Alleging bias, non-IAS officers petition PM Modi|last=Dastidar|first=Avishek G|date=14 January 2017|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=13 August 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=15 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515100626/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/alleging-bias-non-ias-officers-petition-pm-modi-4473316/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/parity-between-ias-and-non-ias-the-ias-will-get-to-decide/story-9RijZjXY4DeaPlvo8m25mJ.html|title=Parity between IAS and non-IAS? The IAS will get to decide|last=Tikku|first=Aloke|date=15 January 2016|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=13 August 2017|language=en|archive-date=31 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531004148/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/parity-between-ias-and-non-ias-the-ias-will-get-to-decide/story-9RijZjXY4DeaPlvo8m25mJ.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and is a government official of high seniority. The civil servants who hold this rank are either from [[All India Services]] or [[Central Civil Services of India|Central Civil Services]]. All promotions and appointments to this rank and post are directly made by the [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet]].

In the functioning of [[Government of India]], an additional secretary is the administrative head of a wing in a department.<ref name="JS GOI">{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/key-posts-vacant-at-centre-few-takers-116061100631_1.html|title=Archive: JS-level posts vacant at Centre, few takers|publisher=[[Business Standard]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106170600/http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/key-posts-vacant-at-centre-few-takers-116061100631_1.html|archive-date=6 November 2016|url-status=dead|accessdate=6 November 2016|df=dmy}}</ref> Additional secretaries in the [[Government of India|Union Government]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss(4).pdf|title=Part I of the Constitution of India- The Union and its territory - Article 1|website=[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]], [[Government of India]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010141832/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss(4).pdf|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=15 January 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss(17).pdf|title=Part XIV of the Constitution of India- Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits - Article 300|website=[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]], [[Government of India]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203131439/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss(17).pdf|archive-date=2011-12-03|url-status=dead|access-date=6 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="Services under the Union and the states">{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss(19).pdf|title=Part XIV of the Constitution of India- Services under the Union and the States - Article 312(2)|website=[[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]], [[Government of India]]|language=en|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203131448/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/Const.Pock%202Pg.Rom8Fsss(19).pdf|archive-date=3 December 2011|url-status=dead|accessdate=16 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> is analogous to [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]]<ref name="LTG Additional Secretary GOI">{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1937014|title=Vice Admiral Atul Anand takes over as Additional Secretary, DMA|work=[[Ministry of Defence (India)]]|accessdate=18 July 2024}}</ref> or [[Major general (India)|Major General]] (PSO)<ref name="Military Civilian parity">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1161028/jsp/nation/story_116104.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028151302/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1161028/jsp/nation/story_116104.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 October 2016|title=Govt 'clarifies', soldiers upset|last=Dutta|first=Sujjan|date=28 October 2017|website=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]|accessdate=3 October 2017}}</ref> in [[Indian Armed Forces]]. In the [[Department of Military Affairs]] of the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]], an [[Indian Armed Forces|officer from all the three armed forces]] of the rank of Lieutenant General and equivalent is currently appointed{{efn|See [[Atul Anand]].}} and designated as Additional Secretary (Army/Navy/AirForce).

Additional secretaries rank 25th on [[Indian order of precedence|Order of Precedence of India]].<ref name="rajyasabha2">{{cite web|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/guidline_govt_mp/chap11.pdf|title=Order of Precedence|date=26 July 1979|work=[[Rajya Sabha]]|publisher=President's Secretariat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929091917/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/guidline_govt_mp/chap11.pdf|archive-date=2010-09-29|url-status=dead|accessdate=24 September 2017}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/table_of_precedence.pdf|title=Table of Precedence|date=26 July 1979|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], [[Government of India]]|publisher=President's Secretariat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527155701/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/table_of_precedence.pdf|archive-date=27 May 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=24 September 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/hindi/top|title=Table of Precedence|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]], [[Government of India]]|publisher=President's Secretariat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428030937/http://mha.nic.in/hindi/top|archive-date=28 April 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=24 September 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Maheshwari 2001 6662">{{cite book|title=Indian Administration|last=Maheshwari|first=S.R.|publisher=Orient Blackswan Private Ltd.|year=2000|isbn=9788125019886|edition=6th|location=[[New Delhi]]}}</ref>

== History ==
During the majority of the British period, particularly between 1920 and 1940, the position of [[Joint Secretary to the Government of India]] functioned as the second-highest rank within central departments, subordinate only to [[Secretary to the Government of India]]. By the mid-1940s, the designation of Additional Secretary was introduced in select departments, but was not yet universal.

[[Richard Tottenham (civil servant)|Sir Richard Tottenham]], [[Indian Civil Service (British India)|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."<ref name="Richard Tottenham">{{cite book|last=Jayapalan|first=N.|title=Indian Administration 2 Vols. Set|year=2001|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri|isbn=9788171569212|pages=668}}</ref>

==Tenure and Appointment==
===Tenure===
A member of [[All India Services]] is appointed to this rank and post only on tenure. This tenure is a deputation to the Central Government and is fixed for 4 years, after which they are sent back to their own parent cadre. To be eligible for deputation, a civil servant has to have a mandatory prior central work experience at Deputy Secretary and above level in [[Government of India]].<ref name="Empanelment Center Khemka">{{Cite news|title=DoPT turns down Khemka request for empanelment, cites ‘nil central experience’|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/dopt-turns-down-khemka-request-for-empanelment-cites-nil-central-experience-7557070/|access-date=2025-07-22|work=[[The Indian Express]]|archive-date=24 July 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250724023948/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/dopt-turns-down-khemka-request-for-empanelment-cites-nil-central-experience-7557070/|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref name="Empanelment Center Khemka2">{{Cite news|title=Centre tells HC: Ashok Khemka not eligible for central government appointment|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/centre-tells-hc-ashok-khemka-not-eligible-for-central-government-appointment/story-wGxK2IWIGozHudNJBB2MtO.html |access-date=2025-07-22 |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

A member of [[Central Civil Services]] is appointed to this rank and post as per vacancy in their own service cadre and are empanelled.

== Powers, responsibilities and postings ==
[[File:Government of India hierarchy.svg|alt=|thumb|The organizational structure of a department of the Government of India.]]
Additional 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.<ref name="Powers and Duties">{{cite web|url=http://dipp.nic.in/English/RTI/rti_Power_Duties.htm|title=Powers and Duties of Officers and Employees as defined in the Manual of Office Procedure|date=21 August 2014|publisher=Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion|accessdate=21 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823033029/http://dipp.nic.in/English/RTI/rti_Power_Duties.htm|archive-date=23 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> An additional secretary in charge of administration also exercises all administrative powers as head of the department wing of the ministry/department.<ref name="CSMOP India">{{cite web|url=http://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/CSMOP_0_0.pdf|title=Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure - 14th Edition (2015)|publisher=[[Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (India)|Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension]]|page=6|accessdate=15 November 2016|archive-date=3 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603153325/https://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/CSMOP_0_0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Additional secretaries and [[Joint Secretary to Government of India|joint secretaries]] are responsible for filing all affidavits and responses before the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name="JS SCI">{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-confidential-new-responseibility-4468682/|title=Delhi Confidential: New Respons(e)ibility|date=11 January 2017|work=[[The Indian Express]]|accessdate=3 October 2017|archive-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004034806/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-confidential-new-responseibility-4468682/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Affidavit SC JS">{{cite web|url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/8276002_SC-against-filing-of-affidavit-below-officer-of-Jt-Secy-level-.html|title=SC against filing of affidavit below officer of Jt Secy level|date=10 January 2017|work=[[Press Trust of India]]|accessdate=3 October 2017|archive-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004034522/http://www.ptinews.com/news/8276002_SC-against-filing-of-affidavit-below-officer-of-Jt-Secy-level-.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Prime Minister of India]] is the final authority on posting and transfer of officers of additional secretary level.<ref name="Postings and Transfer2">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/PM-to-oversee-cadre-allocation-of-bureaucrats-postings-of-joint-secretaries-and-above/articleshow/40451799.cms|title=PM to oversee cadre allocation of bureaucrats, postings of joint secretaries and above|date=21 August 2014|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=17 September 2017|archive-date=4 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404084407/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/PM-to-oversee-cadre-allocation-of-bureaucrats-postings-of-joint-secretaries-and-above/articleshow/40451799.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> Additional secretaries report to their departmental [[Secretary to Government of India|secretary]] and ministerial/departmental [[Union Council of Ministers of India|cabinet minister]].

== Position ==
In the Union government, the members head department wings in the departments and ministries of Union Government.<ref name="CSMOP India" />

Government nominated board members in the [[Public sector undertakings in India|Central Public Sector Enterprises]]/[[Public sector undertakings in India|Public Sector Undertakings]] are either of the rank of additional secretary or [[Joint Secretary to Government of India|joint secretary]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dpe.gov.in/sites/default/files/B-Composition%20of%20Board%20of%20Directors_0.pdf|title=CHAPTER II PERSONNEL POLICIES (b) Composition of Board of Directors|website=Department of Public Enterprises, [[Government of India]]|access-date=12 January 2018|archive-date=13 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113202954/http://dpe.gov.in/sites/default/files/B-Composition%20of%20Board%20of%20Directors_0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the [[Pay Commission|Seventh Central Pay Commission of India]], [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS officers]] hold 98 out of 107 positions of additional secretary in the [[Government of India]].{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

== Emolument, accommodation and perks ==
[[File:Indian Official Passports Front.svg|thumb|An Indian Diplomatic Passport and an Official Passport generally issued to Additional Secretary (GOI).|300x300px]]
All additional secretaries to 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 the [[Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs|Ministry of Urban Development]] (Directorate of Estates).<ref name="Live Residence">{{cite web|url=http://estates.nic.in/WriteReadData/dlrtiact/compendium.pdf|title=Compendium (RTI Act) – Government Residence (General Pool in Delhi) Rules|date=January 2013|publisher=Directorate of Estates, [[Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs|Ministry of Urban Development]]|accessdate=21 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113222729/http://estates.nic.in/WriteReadData/dlrtiact/compendium.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The salary and emolument in this rank is equivalent<ref name="Army Pay Rules">{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.nic.in/writereaddata/ArmyOfficersPayRules.pdf|title=Army Officers Pay Rules, 2017: Government of India|work=[[Ministry of Defence (India)]]|accessdate=23 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516184107/http://www.mod.nic.in/writereaddata/ArmyOfficersPayRules.pdf|archive-date=16 May 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> to Principal staff officers (PSO) of the rank of [[Major general]] and certain officers not PSOs, but in [[Lieutenant general (India)|lieutenant general]] and equivalent ranks in [[Indian Armed Forces]].<ref name="Army Pay Rules" /><ref name="7 Pay Commission Report">{{cite web|url=http://7cpc.india.gov.in/pdf/sevencpcreport.pdf|title=Report of the 7th Central Pay Commission of India|website=Seventh Central Pay Commission, [[Government of India]]|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120092637/http://7cpc.india.gov.in/pdf/sevencpcreport.pdf|archive-date=20 November 2015|url-status=dead|accessdate=16 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1ex 0 1ex 1ex; "

|+'''Additional Secretary, GoI monthly pay and allowances'''
!Base Salary as per [[7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) and Defence Forces|7th Pay Commission]] (Per month)
!Level on Pay Matrix
!Sources
|-
|{{INRConvert|182200}} '''(Minimum Pay)''' to {{INRConvert|224100}} '''(Maximum Pay)'''
|Level 15
|<ref name="7 Pay Commission Report" /><ref name=":India Today 7CPC">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/7th-pay-commission-cleared-what-is-pay-commission-how-does-it-effect-our-pockets-16980-2016-06-29|title=7th Pay Commission cleared: What is the Pay Commission? How does it affect salaries?|date=29 June 2016|editor-last=Biswas|editor-first=Shreya|website=[[India Today]]|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115201145/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/7th-pay-commission-cleared-what-is-pay-commission-how-does-it-effect-our-pockets/1/703452.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

== Reforms and challenges ==
Non-IAS civil services have complained to Government of India because of lack of empanelment in the rank/post of additional secretary on numerous occasions.<ref name="7 Pay Commission Report" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.governancenow.com/news/regular-story/ias-emperor-the-kings|title=IAS: Emperor among the kings?|last=Tripathi|first=Shishir|date=8 December 2015|work=Governance Now|access-date=13 August 2017|language=en|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813060013/http://www.governancenow.com/news/regular-story/ias-emperor-the-kings|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/need-pay-parity-with-ias-officers-say-officials-of-20-civil-services-1426279|title=Need Pay Parity With IAS Officers, Say Officials Of 20 Civil Services|date=30 June 2016|work=[[NDTV]]|access-date=13 August 2017|language=en|archive-date=13 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813142643/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/need-pay-parity-with-ias-officers-say-officials-of-20-civil-services-1426279|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Lateral entry===
During the tenure of [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Manmohan Singh]], a new post was created named "Spokesman and Media Advisor to the Prime Minister", which was equivalent to this rank <ref name="MMB"/> in [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]], where [[Sanjaya Baru]] served from 2004-2008.<ref name="MMB">{{cite book|title=[[The Accidental Prime Minister|The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh]]|edition=6th|last=Baru|first=Sanjaya|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|year=2014|isbn=9780670086740|location=}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book|title=Indian Administration|last=Maheshwari|first=S.R.|publisher=Orient Blackswan Private Ltd.|year=2000|isbn=9788125019886|edition=6th|location=[[New Delhi]]}}
* {{cite book|title=Britain's Imperial Administrators, 1858-1966|last=Kirk-Greene|first=A.|author-link = Anthony Kirk-Greene|publisher=Springer|year=2000|isbn=9780230286320|location=[[New York City]]}}
* {{cite book|title=Indian Administration 2 Vols. Set|last=Jayapalan|first=N.|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri|year=2001|isbn=9788171569212}}
* {{cite book|title=Handbook Of Public Relations In India|last=Mehta|first=Dalpat Singh|publisher=Allied Publishers|year=1968|isbn=978-8170233343|location=New Delhi}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Central Civil Services (India)]]
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]
[[Category:Indian Foreign Service officers]]
[[Category:Indian government officials]]
[[Category:Indian Police Service officers]]

Additional secretary to the Government of India - Revision history

IndiaTurney9471 at 15:44, 28 April 2026