Senior government rank and civil service post in the Government of India
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.[1] The authority for creation of this post solely rests with Cabinet of India.[2]
The post is somewhat analogous to a principal secretary in a state government. But because of seniority, office-bearers can hold senior positions like as that of additional chief secretary to a state government, and in Union Territories, they can hold the position of Chief Secretary of a UT government.
History
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."[16]
Powers, responsibilities and postings
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.[17] An additional secretary in charge of administration also exercises all administrative powers as head of the department wing of the ministry/department.[18]
The Prime Minister of India is the final authority on posting and transfer of officers of additional secretary level.[21] 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.[18]
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.[3][4][5][25][26]