Cabinet Secretary

In News: The centre has given a one-year extension to Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba.

• Gauba, former Union Home Secretary, was in 2019 appointed to the country’s top bureaucratic post for two years.
• This is his second extension on the post. He was given a one-year extension in August last year.

Cabinet Secretary

• The Cabinet Secretary is the top-most executive official and senior-most civil servant of the Government of India.
• She/he is the ex-officio head of the Civil Services Board, the Cabinet Secretariat, the IAS, and all civil services under the rules of business of the government.
• She/he ranks eleventh on the Indian order of precedence.
• She/he is under the direct charge of the PM and is appointed for a fixed tenure of two years.
• The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the Transaction of Business and the Allocation of Business Rules 1961.

Functions

• She/he facilitates smooth transaction of business in Ministries/ Departments of the Government.

This Secretariat provides:

• Secretarial assistance to the Cabinet and its Committees
• Assists in decision-making in Government by ensuring Inter-Ministerial coordination ,
• Ironing out differences amongst Ministries/ Departments
• Evolving consensus through the instrumentality of the standing/ adhoc Committees of Secretaries

Extension

• In 2019 All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement-Benefits) Rules, 1958, was amended by Government to provide extension.
• According to All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement-Benefits) Rules, 1958, the government can give extension in service to a cabinet secretary provided the total tenure does not exceed four years.
• As per the modified rules, the central government may give an extension in service for a further period not exceeding three months, beyond the period of four years to a cabinet secretary.

Source: Indian Express

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Which of the following is/are the function/functions of the Cabinet Secretariat? (2014)

1. Preparation of agenda for Cabinet Meetings
2. Secretarial assistance to Cabinet Committees
3. Allocation of financial resources to the Ministries

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2) Consider the following statements: (2016)

1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State.
2. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2