Home Secretary (India)

Home Secretary
Emblem of India
Flag of India
Incumbent
Ajay Kumar Bhalla, IAS
since 22 August 2019
Ministry of Home Affairs
Member of Strategic Policy Group
Committee of secretaries on Administration
Reports to
Residence 3, New Moti Bagh, New Delhi
Seat Ministry of Home Affairs
North Block, Cabinet Secretariat
Raisina Hill
New Delhi
Appointer Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
Term length Two years, term can be extended.
Formation 1947
Salary ₹225,000 (US$2,800) monthly
Website Official Website

The home secretary (IAST: Gṛha Saciva) is the administrative head of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This post is held by a senior IAS officer of the rank of Secretary to Government of India. The current Home Secretary is Ajay Kumar Bhalla. All Central Forces including the CRPF, CISF, BSF and State Police Forces are under the Union Home Secretary.

As a Secretary to Government of India, the Home Secretary ranks 23rd on Indian Order of Precedence.

Powers, responsibilities and postings

Home Secretary is the administrative head of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and is the principal adviser to the Home Minister on all matters of policy and administration within the Home Ministry.

The role of Home Secretary is as follows:

Emolument, accommodation and perquisites

The Home Secretary is eligible for a Diplomatic passport. The official earmarked residence of the Union Home Secretary is 3, New Moti Bagh, New Delhi, a Type-VIII bungalow.

As the Home Secretary is of the rank of Secretary to Government of India, his/her salary is equivalent to Chief Secretaries of State Governments and to Vice Chief of Army Staff/Commanders, in the rank of Lieutenant General and equivalent ranks in Indian Armed Forces.

Home Secretary monthly pay and allowances
Base Salary as per 7th Pay Commission (Per month) Pay Matrix Level Sources
₹225,000 (US$2,800) Pay Level 17

List of Home Secretaries

Name Assumed office Left office Ref
Ajay Kumar Bhalla 22 August 2019 Incumbent
Rajiv Gauba 31 August 2017 22 August 2019
Rajiv Mehrishi 31 August 2015 30 August 2017
L. C. Goyal 5 February 2015 31 August 2015
Anil Goswami 30 June 2013 4 February 2015
R. K. Singh 30 June 2011 30 June 2013
Gopal Krishna Pillai 30 June 2009 30 June 2011
Madhukar Gupta 31 March 2007 30 June 2009
Vinod Kumar Duggal 31 March 2005 31 March 2007
Dhirendra Singh 1 July 2004 31 March 2005
Anil Baijal 8 February 2004 1 July 2004
N. Gopalaswami 15 October 2002 8 February 2004
Kamal Pande 5 May 1999 15 October 2002
Balmiki Prasad Singh 1 November 1997 4 May 1999
K. Padmanabhaiah 1 June 1994 31 October 1997
N. N. Vohra 6 April 1993 31 May 1994
Madhav Godbole 4 October 1991 23 March 1993
R. K. Bhargava 12 December 1990 3 October 1991
Naresh Chandra 21 March 1990 11 December 1990
Shiromani Sharma 29 December 1989 20 March 1990
J. A. Kalyankrishnan 17 October 1988 29 December 1989
C. G. Somiah 1 July 1986 16 October 1988
R. D. Pradhan 15 January 1985 30 June 1986
Prem Kumar 6 November 1984 15 January 1985
M. M. K. Wali 1 March 1984 4 November 1984
T. N. Chaturvedi 12 August 1981 29 February 1984
S. M. H. Burney 29 February 1980 12 August 1981
T. C. A. Srinivasavaradan 31 March 1977 29 February 1980
S. L. Khurana 23 June 1975 30 March 1977
Nirmal Kumar Mukarji 4 July 1973 23 June 1975
Govind Narain 1 January 1971 18 May 1973
L. P. Singh 18 September 1964 1 January 1971
V. Vishwanathan 27 November 1961 18 September 1964
B. N. Jha 15 January 1958 26 November 1961
A. V. Pai 1 March 1953 14 January 1958
H. V. R. Iyengar 1 August 1948 28 February 1953
R. N. Banerjee 5 May 1947 2 July 1948

See also