{{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 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. 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 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, 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, 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, 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<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 (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|accessdate=3 October 2017}}</ref> in Indian Armed Forces. In the Department of Military Affairs of the Ministry of Defence, an 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 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, 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, 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.

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."<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 == 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 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 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 and ministerial/departmental 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 Central Public Sector Enterprises/Public Sector Undertakings are either of the rank of additional secretary or 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 Seventh Central Pay Commission of India, 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 == 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 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 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 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 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&nbsp;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 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, where Sanjaya Baru served from 2004-2008.<ref name="MMB">{{cite book|title=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