Commissioner vs Secretary — Who is More Powerful in State Government (India 2025)
In the Indian administrative setup, many aspirants and citizens wonder who is more powerful — Commissioner or Secretary? This article clearly explains the difference between Commissioner Secretary and Administrative Secretary, the hierarchy between Principal Secretary and Commissioner Secretary, and even compares the Chief Secretary vs MLA and Cabinet Secretary order of precedence — in a simple, factual, and SEO-friendly way.
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Who is a Commissioner in State Administration?
The Commissioner is a senior administrative officer, usually an IAS officer, who heads a division or zone within a state. A Divisional Commissioner supervises multiple districts and coordinates revenue, law and order, and development work between District Collectors.
- Appointed By: State Government (usually an IAS officer)
- Reports To: Chief Secretary or Administrative Secretary of the concerned department
- Main Role: Supervision, coordination, and field-level execution of policies
Who is a Secretary in State Government?
A Secretary in a state government is the **administrative head of a department**, such as Health, Education, Revenue, etc. They are senior IAS officers responsible for **policy formulation and departmental control**. Each department has one Administrative Secretary, and in large states, sometimes a Principal Secretary or Commissioner Secretary.
- Appointed By: State Government
- Reports To: Chief Secretary and Minister-in-Charge
- Main Role: Policy planning, departmental administration, budget approval
Commissioner vs Secretary — Key Difference
| Feature | Commissioner | Secretary |
|---|---|---|
| Position Type | Field-level officer | Head of a State Department |
| Level of Work | Implementation and supervision of government policies in divisions | Policy formulation and decision-making at the Secretariat |
| Reports To | Administrative / Principal Secretary | Chief Secretary or State Minister |
| Power Type | Executive and operational power | Administrative and financial power |
| Field Presence | High — visits districts and divisions regularly | Mostly office-based in Secretariat |
| Rank | Usually IAS of 15–20 years of service (Commissioner rank) | IAS officer of higher grade — Principal or Administrative Secretary |
Commissioner vs Secretary — Who is More Powerful?
In administrative hierarchy, the Secretary is higher than the Commissioner. While the Commissioner handles field execution and coordination, the Secretary makes departmental policies, approves major decisions, and has more administrative authority. Therefore, in rank and power, **Secretary > Commissioner**.
Difference Between Principal Secretary and Commissioner Secretary
- Principal Secretary: Senior-most Secretary in a department, usually of Additional Chief Secretary rank (Higher IAS scale).
- Commissioner Secretary: Junior to Principal Secretary; heads a department or division and oversees multiple Directorates.
Hence, Principal Secretary > Commissioner Secretary > Administrative Secretary (in descending order of seniority).
Difference Between Commissioner Secretary and Administrative Secretary
Both are senior IAS officers. However, the Commissioner Secretary is a step above the Administrative Secretary and may handle multiple departments or directorates together. Administrative Secretary focuses on day-to-day departmental functions, while Commissioner Secretary has broader powers and coordination responsibilities.
Difference Between Director and Commissioner
| Criteria | Director | Commissioner |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Heads a Directorate within a department | Supervises multiple districts or acts as head of a major field wing |
| Power Level | Technical and departmental | Administrative and supervisory |
| Reports To | Administrative/Commissioner Secretary | Secretary or Chief Secretary |
Chief Secretary vs MLA — Who is More Powerful?
This is a common question among aspirants. In administrative terms, the Chief Secretary is the **senior-most civil servant** in a state — the top IAS officer who controls all secretaries and heads of departments. However, in constitutional and political terms, the MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) is an **elected representative** — a lawmaker.
So, constitutionally: MLA > Chief Secretary (since the bureaucracy reports to elected representatives), but administratively: Chief Secretary > MLA (in executive functioning).
Secretary Rank in State Government
- Administrative Secretary: Heads a department
- Commissioner Secretary: Supervises multiple departments/divisions
- Principal Secretary: Senior-most policy head
- Additional Chief Secretary: Just below the Chief Secretary
- Chief Secretary: Topmost IAS officer of the state
Cabinet Secretary — Order of Precedence (India)
The Cabinet Secretary of India is the **senior-most civil servant** and head of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). He ranks at **11th position** in the official Order of Precedence of India, equivalent to the Cabinet Ministers of the Union Government.
- Rank: #11 in the Order of Precedence
- Appointed By: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
- Reports To: Prime Minister of India
- Role: Head of the Cabinet Secretariat; coordinates between ministries and the PMO
Summary Table — Commissioner vs Secretary Hierarchy
| Post | Type | Reports To | Rank (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner | Divisional Field Officer | Administrative/Commissioner Secretary | IAS (Selection Grade) |
| Administrative Secretary | Department Head | Chief Secretary | IAS (Super Time Scale) |
| Commissioner Secretary | Supervises multiple directorates | Chief Secretary | IAS (Above Super Time Scale) |
| Principal Secretary | Senior-most in department | Chief Secretary / Minister | IAS (Apex Scale) |
| Chief Secretary | Head of all state civil services | Chief Minister | Top IAS rank in the state |
Conclusion
In short, the Secretary (especially the Principal or Administrative Secretary) holds **higher authority** than a Commissioner**. While Commissioners handle **field-level execution**, Secretaries make **policy-level decisions** and have more control over administration, finance, and staffing. In the hierarchy of state governance — Chief Secretary > Principal Secretary > Commissioner Secretary > Administrative Secretary > Commissioner.