Consider the following statements: 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?
A
1 only
B
2 only
C
Both 1 and 2
D
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer
Explanation
Option (d) is correct because the Chief Secretary is chosen and appointed by the Chief Minister of the state, and the post does not carry a fixed tenure, as the officer serves at the pleasure of the political executive. Statement 1 is the most tempting error because students often assume all high-level state appointments are made by the Governor, whereas the Chief Secretary is a discretionary appointment of the Chief Minister. The core concept being tested is the administrative structure of the State Secretariat and the specific relationship between the political executive and the senior-most civil servant in a state.
State AdministrationChief Secretary's Appointment and TenureChief SecretaryStateGovernorappointmentfixed tenureChief MinisterAll India Services