Who is the Cabinet Secretary of India as of September 2024?

The correct answer is Rajiv Gauba.

Key Points

• Rajiv Gauba is the current Cabinet Secretary of India, serving since August 30, 2019.
• He received a one-year extension in August 2023, which makes him the Cabinet Secretary as of September 2024.
• The Cabinet Secretary is the top-most executive official and senior-most civil servant in the Government of India.
• Rajiv Gauba is a 1982-batch IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre with extensive experience in governance and administration.
• He has previously served as the Union Home Secretary and held key positions in the Central and State Governments.

Additional Information

• Role of the Cabinet Secretary:
  • Acts as the principal coordinator between the Union Government and various ministries/departments.
  • Heads the Cabinet Secretariat and facilitates decision-making at the highest level of governance.
  • Advises the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers on policy matters and administrative decisions.
• Appointment Process:
  • The Cabinet Secretary is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by the Prime Minister.
  • The tenure is generally fixed at two years, but extensions can be granted based on performance and necessity.
• Historical Context:
  • The post of Cabinet Secretary was established in 1950, with N. R. Pillai being the first to hold the position.
  • It is considered the apex post in the Indian civil service hierarchy.
• Cabinet Secretariat:
  • It functions as the administrative arm of the Cabinet and handles major inter-ministerial coordination.
  • It ensures smooth communication and implementation of decisions taken by the Union Council of Ministers.