<P> The post of Chief Secretary (Mukhya Sachiv) is the senior-most position held in the civil services of the states and union territories of India . The position is a cadre post for the Indian Administrative Service . </P> <P> The salary of Chief Secretary of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, Punjab and Burma was fixed and was same to Joint Secretary to Government of India during the British Raj . As per Warrant or Precedence of 1905, Secretary to Government of India was listed together with Joint Secretary to Government of India and was ranked above the rank of Chief Secretary . </P> <P> Chief Secretaries are members of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) who are the administrative head of state governments . A Chief Secretary functions as the central point of interdepartmental coordination at the departmental level and is classified as being in the Apex Grade . Chief Secretary is considered to be the Chief Executive of the state government and considered to be' a linchpin' in the administration . Chief Secretary of the state also acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the State Civil Service Board, which recommends transfer / postings of officers of All India Services and State Civil Services in the state . </P> <P> Traditionally, the most senior IAS officer within a state is chosen as the Chief Secretary; however, there are exceptions . </P>

Chief secretary of a state is chief of