Polity

Comparison of Position of Chief Secretary at State Level and Cabinet Secretary at Union Level

Similarities

• Both the functionaries are chief advisors to their respective chief executives.
• Both of them are chief coordinators of their respective administrations.
• Both are secretaries to their respective cabinets at both the levels.
• Both are administrative heads of their respective cabinet secretariats
• Both the offices originated at the Central level because of their functional relevance.
• Both supervise the implementation of the decisions of their respective cabinets.
• Both are heads of their respective civil services.

Differences

• The powers and functions of chief secretary are much more than that of the Cabinet Secretary.
• The former is the administrative head of the state secretariat, while the latter Is not the administrative head of the central secretariat.
• The chief secretary Is the chief of state secretaries, while the Cabinet Secretary is not the chief of central secretaries but only a primus Interprets or first among equals.
• The chief secretary is the Residual Legatee at the state level, while the Cabinet Secretary does not perform this legal function at the Centre. At the central level It Is performed by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister who Is the administrative head of the PM office. Some departments of the state secretariat are under the direct charge of the chief secretary who does not head, the state cabinet secretariat.