Deepak Kumar New Home Secretary of Uttar Pradesh

• 20 Mar 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Election Commission has approved Senior IAS officer Deepak Kumar as the new Home Secretary of Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• Deepak Kumar, a 1990 batch IAS officer, is presently Additional Chief Secretary of Finance and Basic Education.

Chief Secretary of State

• Appointment:
  • The Chief Secretary is ‘chosen’ by the Chief Minister.
  • As the appointment of Chief Secretary is an executive action of the Chief Minister, it is taken in the name of the Governor of the State.
• Position:
  • The post of Chief Secretary is the senior-most position in the civil services of the states and union territories of India.
  • The position is a cadre post for the Indian Administrative Services.
  • The Chief Secretary is the chief advisor to the Chief Minister in all matters of the cabinet.
• Tenure:
  • The office of Chief Secretary has been excluded from the operation of the tenure system.
  • There is no fixed tenure for this post.

Election Commission of India

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.
• It was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950 (celebrated as National Voters' Day). The secretariat of the commission is in New Delhi.
• The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
• It is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and municipalities in the states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Commission.