Principal Secretary in India
A Principal Secretary is a senior IAS officer who heads a government department at the state or central level. They oversee policy implementation, manage administration, and ensure smooth coordination between Ministers and the government machinery. Their role is key to turning policy decisions into effective public services.
Here is a list of all the Principal Secretary of India and their time in office:
Name | Duration (Start – End) | Home State | Prime Minister |
Shaktikanta Das | 22 February 2025 – Present | Odisha | Narendra Modi |
Pramod Kumar Mishra | 11 September 2019 – 20 February 2025 | Uttar Pradesh | Narendra Modi |
Nripendra Misra | 28 May 2014 – 10 September 2019 | Uttar Pradesh | Narendra Modi |
Pulok Chatterji | 3 October 2011 – 26 May 2014 | Uttar Pradesh | Manmohan Singh |
T. K. A. Nair | 28 May 2004 – 3 October 2011 | Kerala | Manmohan Singh |
Brajesh Mishra | 19 March 1998 – 22 May 2004 | Uttar Pradesh | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
Narinder Nath Vohra | 1 July 1997 – 19 March 1998 | Punjab | I. K. Gujral |
T. R. Satishchandran | 12 June 1996 – 30 June 1997 | Tamil Nadu | H. D. Deve Gowda / I. K. Gujral |
Amar Nath Verma | 25 June 1991 – 15 May 1996 | Uttar Pradesh | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
S. K. Misra | 11 December 1990 – 24 June 1991 | Not Publicly Specified | Chandra Shekhar |
B. G. Deshmukh | 27 March 1989 – 11 December 1990 | Maharashtra | Rajiv Gandhi / V. P. Singh / Chandra Shekhar |
Sarla Grewal | 25 September 1985 – 1 March 1989 | Punjab | Rajiv Gandhi |
P. C. Alexander | 2 May 1981 – 18 January 1985 | Kerala | Indira Gandhi / Rajiv Gandhi |
V. Shankar | 4 April 1977 – 31 July 1979 | Tamil Nadu | Morarji Desai |
P. N. Dhar | 10 March 1973 – 3 April 1977 | Jammu & Kashmir | Indira Gandhi |
P. N. Haksar | 6 December 1971 – 28 February 1973 | Jammu & Kashmir | Indira Gandhi |
FAQs on Principal Secretary in the government
- Who is a Principal Secretary in the government?
A Principal Secretary is a senior IAS officer who heads a major department in a state or central government. They are responsible for policy execution, administration, and advising ministers on important matters.
- What are the duties of a Principal Secretary?
A Principal Secretary oversees department functioning, implements government policies, manages senior officials, prepares reports, and ensures coordination between different wings of the government.
- Is a Principal Secretary a political position?
No, a Principal Secretary is a bureaucratic (administrative) post, not a political one. The officer is usually appointed from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
- What is the difference between a Principal Secretary and a Secretary?
A Principal Secretary is typically senior to a Secretary and may handle more important or larger departments. In some states, the title indicates higher rank and experience.
- Who does a Principal Secretary report to?
A Principal Secretary reports to the concerned Minister of the department and, in administrative matters, to the Chief Secretary or Cabinet Secretary depending on whether the role is at the state or central level.
Prerna Surana is a Finance Content Writer with over three years of experience at Bank Bazaar. She specialises in creating insightful content on Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Taxes, and other BFSI products. Beyond finance, Prerna also writes about non-financial utility products such as Aadhar Card, Voter ID, and Government Certificates.
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