Principal secretary is a post instate governments and thecentral government of India. The position holder is generally a seniorIndian Administrative Service officer or other senior civil servants. Principal secretaries generally are the administrative heads of departments in a state government. They can also be deputed to central government in the post of anJoint Secretary to Government of India.[1][2][3]
In the state governments, a principal secretary ranks above a secretary but it is below the designations of additional chief secretary andchief secretary. Principal Secretaries act as administrative heads of the department they are assigned to.
The post ofPrincipal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India was created during the tenure ofIndira Gandhi asprime minister.[4] The Principal Secretary to PM is the head of thePrime Minister's Office. He/she holds the rank and status ofCabinet Secretary to the Government of India.[5] Additionally, some prime ministers also appoint anadditional principal secretary, who too holds the rank and status ofCabinet Secretary to the Government of India.[6]
InJammu and Kashmir High Court, there is a Principal Secretary to the Chief Justice, he is of a senior district and sessions judge rank. He attends matters pertaining to the employees of subordinate judiciary such as appointments, transfers, promotions and leave. He is alsoex officio secretary of Public Interest Litigation Cell. He also attends all other matters assigned by the chief justice. He is overall in charge of chief justice's secretariat.[citation needed]