Administrative System

Administrative System is an important topic under Rajasthan Polity that explains the structure, organization, and functioning of governance in the state. It covers key administrative institutions and officials involved in policy implementation and public administration. Understanding this topic helps in analyzing the coordination, efficiency, and overall working of the state administration in Rajasthan.

Structure of Rajasthan Administration

Chief Secretary

Historical background and creation of the post

• Creation: This post was created in 1799 by the then Governor General Lord Wellesley.
• First Chief Secretary: The first officer to hold this post was G.S. Barlow.
• Initial role: Initially, the Chief Secretary functioned as the ‘Secretary to the Provincial Government’, acting as a link with the British administration.
• Development: In 1843 Lord Ellenborough established the Secretariat of State, and in 1861 the post was formally introduced into the States.
• After Independence:After India’s independence in 1947, the post remained at the top of the state’s bureaucratic and administrative structure.

Introduction

• Prominence: Just as the Chief Minister is the head of the State Council of Ministers, similarly the Chief Secretary is the head of the Government Secretariat.
• Nature of the post: It is the executive head of the state and the top post of the state civil service.
• Ability: Generally, he is the senior-most Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer in the state.
• Appointment: It is appointed by the Chief Minister.
• Tenure: He remains in office only during the pleasure of the Chief Minister (as long as he is trustworthy).
• Special nouns: The Chief Secretary is also called the ‘Residual Legatee’ of the state.
• The post of Chief Secretary is the highest post in the state administration and ranks 23rd in the Indian order of precedence.
• The Chief Secretary serves as the ex-officio Secretary to the State Cabinet, hence called the “Cabinet Secretary”.
• The status of this post is equivalent to that of a Secretary to the Government of India.

Main role and functions of Chief Secretary

The Chief Secretary is the pivot of the state administration, serving as a bridge between the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers. Their duties can be divided into the following categories:

As Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister

• Administrative Guidance: To act as the principal advisor to the Chief Minister on all policy, complex and important matters of the State administration.
• Crisis management: To assist the Chief Minister in taking quick and accurate decisions in case of any emergency (like famine, flood, epidemic or riots) in the state.

Secretary to the Council of Ministers (Cabinet)

• Management of meetings: To prepare the agenda for the meetings of the Cabinet and its sub-committees and to maintain a permanent record of the proceedings of the meetings.
• Active participation: Although the Chief Secretary is not a member of the Cabinet, he compulsorily attends Cabinet meetings.
• Implementation of decisions:To ensure that the policy decisions taken by the Cabinet are implemented by the concerned departments in a timely manner.

As the Head of the State Civil Services

• Personnel Management: To manage and supervise all files relating to appointment, transfer, promotion and service conditions of senior State Civil Servants (IAS, RAS etc.).
• Guardian and Controller: To be responsible for the morale and welfare of all State civil servants and to maintain discipline and efficiency in administration.

Chief Coordinator

• Inter – departmental Coordination: Coordinating between various departments and resolving disputes arising between them.
• Chairing committees: To preside over the meetings of the Coordination Committees constituted for inter-departmental disputes and all the Secretaries of the Government.
• leadership of regional administration: To preside over conferences of Divisional Commissioners, District Collectors and Heads of Departments so that administrative uniformity is maintained throughout the state.

As the administrative head of the Secretariat

• Departmental Control: Acts as the administrative head of the entire State Secretariat. In addition, he also directly controls certain specific departments of the Secretariat (such as the General Administration Department, Personnel Department, etc.).

Institutional Chairmanship and Special Roles

• Dialogue Bridge: To be the main channel of communication on behalf of the State Government with the Central Government, other State Governments and international organizations.
• Nervous System (Nerve Center): To act as a ‘control room’ or nervous system for the entire state administration during times of crisis.
• Public Relations: To lead the administration in making the public aware about the public welfare policies of the state government.

Chairing Specialized Councils:

• Chairman of the Governing Council of the Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency Society.
• Chairman of the Empowered Committee of Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Development Council (RGAVP).

List of Chief Secretaries of Rajasthan (1949–present)

S.No.	Name	Duration	Specifications
1	K. Radhakrishnan	1949 – 1950	First Chief Secretary
2	V. Narayanan	1950 – 1950
3	K. Radhakrishnan	1950 – 1951
4	S.W. Shiveswakar	1951 – 1953
5	B.G. Rao	1953 – 1954
6	Kishanpuri	1954 – 1957
7	K.N. Subrahmanyam	1957 – 1958
8	Bhagat Singh Mehta	1958 – 1964	Later, Cabinet Secretary of India and Padma Vibhushan awardee
9	Sanvaldan Bright	1964 – 1965	First Acting Chief Secretary; Member of RPSC
10	Bhagat Singh Mehta	1965 – 1966	longest tenure
11	K.P.U. Menon	1966 – 1968	He was the first Deputy Lokayukta of the state
12	R.D. Mathur	1968 – 1969
13	Z.S. became	1969 – 1971
14	Sunderlal Khurana	1971 – 1975
15	Mohan Mukherjee	1975 – 1977	Author of the book ‘Non-Story of a Chief Secretary’
16	R.D. Thapar	1977 – 1977	Minimum Tenure
17	Mohan Mukherjee	1977 – 1977
18	Gopal Krishna Bhanot	1977 – 1980
19	Madan Mohan Krishnavali	1980 – 1984
20	Anand Mohan Lal	1984 – 1985
21	Naresh Chandra	1985 – 1986	Worked with the maximum number of Chief Ministers
22	Vipin Bihari Mathur	1986 – 1992	Later, he was the Chief Election Commissioner
23	T.V. Raman	1992 – 1993
24	Govind ji Mishra	1993 – 1994
25	Mithalal Mehta	1994 – 1997	Appointment by breaking the seniority order
26	Arun Kumar	1997 – 1999
27	Indrajit Khanna	2000 – 2002	Later, he was the Chief Information Commissioner.
28	R.K. Nair	2002 – 2005
29	Anil Vesha	2005 – 2007
30	D.C. Samant	2007 – 2009
31	Kushal Singh	2009 – 2009	First woman Chief Secretary
32	T. Srinivasan	2009 – 2010	The Chief Information Commissioner has been
33	Salahuddin Ahmed	2010 – 2012
34	C.K. Mathew	2012 – 2013
35	Rajiv Maharshi	2013 – 2014	He was the 13th CAG of India and was awarded the Padma Bhushan/Vibhushan.
36	C.S. Rajan	2014 – 2016	Chairman of the Board of Auditors at UNO
37	Omprakash Meena	2016 – 2017
38	Ashok Jain	2017 – 2017	Chief Electoral Officer has been
39	Nihalchand Goyal	2017 – 2018
40	D.B. Gupta	2018 – 2020	Current Chief Secretary was on central deputation as Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
41	Rajiv Swarup	2020 – 2020
42	Niranjan Arya	2020 – 2022
43	Usha Sharma	2022 – 2023	Second woman Chief Secretary
44	Sudhansh Pant	2024 – 2025
45	V. Srinivas	30 November 2025 – present	Current Chief Secretary Was on central deputation as Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).

State Secretariat

Introduction and format

• The body that provides necessary administrative assistance, advice and information to the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers at the state level is called the ‘State Secretariat’.
• It is the apex body of administration located in the state capital.
• It is called the ‘heart’ of the state government, where policies are formulated and orders are issued.
• It is a ‘line’ agency that executes decisions, while the directorates below it provide assistance in decision making.
• The Secretariat is headed by the ‘Chief Secretary’, who is called the ‘cutting pin’ of the administration.
• Under the Secretariat are several executive departments or directorates, which are not part of the Secretariat. For example, the Department of Higher Technical Education is part of the Secretariat, but the Directorate of College Education is not a part of the Secretariat; it is an executive department.
• The Secretariat is the staff agency while the Directorate is the thread agency.
• The number of departments in the Secretariat is decided by the State Cabinet.
• The head of the executive department is called the ‘Head of the Department’ (Director, Commissioner or Director).
• The Secretariat is generally staffed by IAS officers, who provide necessary advice to the ministers.

Three-tier structure of state administration

At the state level, there are mainly three organs of government, whose coordination makes governance complete:

1. Minister (Political Head):S upremely responsible for policy making.
2. Secretary (Administrative Head): The Minister’s chief advisor and policy maker.
3. Executive Head: He is commonly called the ‘Director.’ He is responsible for implementing policies on the ground.

Establishment and historical development (in the context of Rajasthan)

• Establishment: Rajasthan Secretariat was established in Jaipur on 13 April 1949 through ‘The Rajasthan Administration Ordinance’.
• It is the highest administrative and policy body in the state, established on the recommendation of the Shankar Rao Committee.
• The Organisation and Methods (O&M) Section was created in 1955
• Administrative Reforms Committees: The following committees were constituted from time to time to improve the functioning of the Secretariat:
  • Harichandra Mathur Committee (1963): Rajasthan Administrative Reforms Committee.
  • Administrative Reforms Commission (1966-70): At the national level.
  • Mohan Mukherjee Committee (1969): Rajasthan Secretariat Reorganisation Committee.
  • Committee on Secretariat Procedure (1971).
  • Bhanot Committee (Chief Secretary) (1992–95): Administrative Reforms Committee.
  • Shiv Charan Mathur Commission (1999-2001): Rajasthan Administrative Reforms Commission.

Need and importance of the Secretariat

• Continuity: To ensure continuity of governance as a permanent administrative system despite political instability.
• Assistance: To provide administrative assistance to the Ministers and to assist them in discharging their legislative responsibilities (answering questions etc.).
• Resource management: Effective use of state resources and strict control over the administrative machinery.
• Policy making: To formulate high-level plans, laws and programmes.

Organisational Structure of State Administration

Political organization

• Controller: The de facto head of the state administration is the Chief Minister, who is also the chief controller of the secretariat.
• Departmental Head: The political head of each department is a Cabinet Minister or a Minister of State.
• Assistance: He is assisted by Deputy Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries.
• Each department is headed by a pair of a minister (for policy decisions) and a secretary (for administrative execution).
• Administrative Leadership in the Rajasthan Government Secretariat:

Chief Secretary

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  Additional Chief Secretary

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        Chief Secretary

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           Secretary

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      Special Secretary

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      Deputy Secretary

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      Assistant Secretary

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        Section Officer

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Assistant Section Officer

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         Senior clerk

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           Junior clerk

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    Class IV employees

Administrative Hierarchy (Top to Bottom)

1. Chief Secretary: The highest administrative officer of the state and the chief advisor to the Chief Minister.
2. Additional Chief Secretary: Heads of important departments (effective from 2004).
3. Principal Secretary: Acting Head of the Department.
4. Secretary to the Government: Responsible for the implementation of policy decisions.
5. Special Secretary: To assist the secretaries.
6. Deputy Secretary: Coordination between sections.
7. Assistant Secretary: Management of lower level administrative functions.

Main functions of the Secretariat

1. Policy Making and Planning: To formulate policies for public welfare and to draw up development plans.
2. Law and rule making: To make Acts, rules and bye-laws on the subjects in the State List.
3. Administration, Operation and Coordination: Implementation of government schemes through field agencies and coordination between various departments.
4. Financial Management and Budgeting: To formulate the state budget and improve the situation by enforcing financial discipline.
5. Personnel Management: To recruit, train, promote employees and determine their service conditions.
6. Supervision and Control: Inspection and control of the work of subordinate institutions (Directorates and District Administration).
7. Public Relations and Data Gathering: Redressal of public grievances and exchange of information with the Centre and other states.

Secretariat vs Directorate

Basis of comparison	Secretariat	Directorate
Original role	To assist the Government in consultation, budgetary control and rule-making.	It is the centre of policymaking.
Type of agency	It is a staff agency (consulting).	This is a line agency (getting the job done).
Top leadership	In this, the minister (political) and the secretary (administrative) work together.	It is headed by a ‘Head of Department’ (also called Director, Commissioner or Director).
Organizational status	This is the top institution of administration.	It is an executive department under the Secretariat, but is not a part of the Secretariat.
Approach	Comprehensive and administrative	Technical and specialized
Chief	Government Secretary (IAS)	Director (Specialist/Regional Officer)
Example	Department of Higher and Technical Education (Part of the Secretariat).	Directorate of College Education (an independent executive department).
Main functions	To assist the Government in consultation, budgetary control and rule making.	Implementation of government schemes and laws at the regional level.

Line vs. Staff

Basis of difference	Line Units	Staff Units
Original nature	These are executive and implement the policies on the ground.	These are advisory and work to give advice.
Relations with the public	They have direct contact with the public.	They only consider and prepare the background for the decision.
Orders and advice	They have the power to give orders and take decisions.	They have the power to give orders and make decisions.
Goals and means	Their functions are the ‘goals’, achieving which is the main objective of the government.	Their functions are ‘means’, which help in achieving the goal.
Place of work	They work actively on the ‘front-line’.	They always work in the background.
Relevance	Their functions are primary, for which the government exists.	Their job is to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of the departments.
Process	The source directs and gets the work done by itself.	Staff provide support through research, planning, and coordination.

Directorates of various departments

• Meaning: A directorate is an executive government department or division that oversees a specific area of ​​public administration (e.g., education, agriculture, health).
• Chief: It is usually headed by a ‘Director’ or ‘Director General’.
• Role: This is the main unit that implements the policies made by the Secretariat on the ground and maintains the system.

Major functions of the Directorates

The role of the Directorate is multifaceted, which can be understood in the following points:

• Policy Implementation: Executing and managing policies formulated by higher levels of government (Secretariat).
• Administration and Efficiency: To administer his/her specific department and ensure efficiency in public service.
• Regulation: Ensuring compliance with laws and government regulations in your jurisdiction.
• Coordination: To act as a ‘link’ between various departments and higher administration so that the flow of information is smooth.
• Supervision and Control: To supervise and give directions to the offices under his control.
• Evaluation: Assessing the effectiveness of implemented policies and suggesting improvements.
• Consultation: To provide practical data and advice to the Secretariat for policy-making based on ground-level experiences.

Types of Directorates

Type	Description	Example
Functional Directorates	Focused on a specific function or operation (e.g. finance, HR).	Financial Directorate (for budget and investment management).
Regional Directorate	Responsible for the management of a specific geographical area or region.	A regional office of a multinational company or organization.
Joint Directorate	A mix of both functional and regional roles.	Management of the supply chain in a specific area.

Organisational Structure of Directorates

Hierarchy

• Director/Director General: Administrative Head (accountable to the Secretary).
• Additional/Joint Director: Assistant in managing specific areas.
• Deputy Director: Mid-level officers (in charge of specific divisions or geographical areas).
• Assistant Director: Management of programs at the local level.
• Regional Officer: Direct implementation at the district, block or village level.

Function-specific departments

• A directorate may have several sections within it, divided by function, geography, or product. Each department has its own team that coordinates with higher management.

Attached and Subordinate Offices

There are two types of offices attached to the Directorate to carry out administrative functions:

• Attached Offices: Their function is to provide technical information and executive direction to the Ministry.
  • They work very closely with the Ministry in policy implementation.
  • Example: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
• Subordinate Offices: These are mainly field offices.
  • Their main responsibility is to physically implement the policies.
  • Example: Soil conservation or seed certification centres spread across the country under the Ministry of Agriculture.

Major Directorates/Commissionerates of Rajasthan

No.	Name of Directorate/Commissionerate	Headquarters	Main functions
1.	Directorate of Prosecution	Jaipur	Presenting the case in criminal cases and managing public prosecutors.
2.	Directorate of Treasuries and Accounts (DTA)	Jaipur	Financial management, audit, state payments and accounting control.
3.	Planning Directorate	Jaipur	Drafting and implementation of development plans of the state.
4.	Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES)	Jaipur	Economic survey, per capita income and collection of statistical data.
5.	Directorate of Secondary Education	Bikaner	Improved seeds, fertilisers, new farming techniques and farmer welfare.
6.	Directorate of Elementary Education	Bikaner	Education from class 1 to 8, Mid-Day Meal and Panchayati Raj Education.
7.	Directorate of College Education	Jaipur	Academic and administrative control of government colleges.
8.	Directorate of Sanskrit Education	Jaipur	Development of Sanskrit educational institutions and language.
9.	Directorate of Local Bodies (DLB)	Jaipur	Administrative control of Municipal Corporations, Councils and Municipalities.
10.	Directorate of Women Empowerment	Jaipur	Specific schemes for women’s safety, rights and empowerment.
11.	Directorate of Women and Child Development	Jaipur	Operation of Anganwadi centres and nutrition schemes.
12.	Directorate of Persons with Disabilities	Jaipur	Management of welfare, equipment and scholarships of persons with disabilities.
13.	Directorate of Mines and Geology	Udaipur	Exploration of minerals, allotment of mining leases and collection of revenue.
14.	Directorate of Petroleum	Jaipur	Development and exploitation of petroleum and hydrocarbon resources.
15.	Directorate of Agriculture	Jaipur	Regulation of agricultural markets and the marketing system.
16.	Directorate of Agricultural Marketing	Jaipur	Development, marketing of tourist places and organising fairs.
17.	Directorate of Horticulture	Jaipur	To promote fruit, flower, vegetable and medicinal cultivation.
18.	Directorate of Animal Husbandry	Jaipur	Animal health, breed improvement and vaccination campaigns.
19.	Directorate of Animal Husbandry	Jaipur	Registration, grants and protection of cow shelters.
20.	Directorate of Fisheries	Jaipur	Development of fisheries and management of reservoirs.
21.	Directorate of Tourism	Jaipur	Operation of Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy medical centres.
22.	Directorate of Ayurveda	Ajmer	Management of Medical Colleges and Super Speciality Hospitals.
23.	Directorate of Medical and Health	Jaipur	Hospital management, vaccination and primary health services.
24.	Directorate of Medical Education	Jaipur	Publication of the Government Gazette and supply of Government stationery.
25.	Directorate of Archaeology and Museums	Jaipur	Preservation of historical monuments and maintenance of museums.
26.	Directorate of Printing and Stationery	Jaipur	Publication of Government Gazette and supply of Government stationery.
27.	Directorate of Civil Defence	Jaipur	Disaster rescue operations and training of volunteers.
28.	Directorate of Disaster Management and Relief	Jaipur	Relief work during natural calamities (floods, famine).
29.	Directorate of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare	Jaipur	Settlement of pension benefits of retired employees.
30.	Directorate of Child Rights	Jaipur	Prevention of child labour and protection of children’s rights.
31.	Directorate of Social Justice and Empowerment	Jaipur	Social security pensions, scholarships and upliftment of backward classes.
32.	Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR)	Jaipur	Publicity of the achievements and schemes of the government.
33.	Directorate of Employment	Jaipur	Employment registration, unemployment allowance and skill guidance.
34.	Excise Department/Commissionerate	Udaipur	Control and collection of taxes on liquor and drugs.
35.	Forest Department (Headquarters)	Jaipur	Expansion of forests, wildlife conservation and environmental balance.
36.	Directorate of Food and Civil Supplies	Jaipur	Ration Distribution (PDS) and Consumer Protection.
37.	Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRIEO)	Jaipur	Control of economic crimes and tax evasion.
38.	Watershed development and soil conservation	Jaipur	Rainwater harvesting and preventing soil erosion.
39.	Devasthan Department	Udaipur	Management of temples, religious trusts and properties.
40.	Transport Commissionerate	Jaipur	Vehicle registration, licensing and enforcement of traffic rules.

Divisional Commissioner

Historical background (1949 – 1987)

• Initial position (1949): During the tenure of Hiralal Shastri, 25 districts and 5 divisions (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Bikaner) were created.
• State Reorganisation (1956): On November 1, 1956, Ajmer-Merwara was merged into Rajasthan on the recommendation of the Fazal Ali Commission. Ajmer became the 26th district and a new division replaced Jaipur.
• Abolition (1962): Chief Minister Mohanlal Sukhadia abolished the divisional system in April 1962.
• Reinstatement (1987): On January 26, 1987, the Haridev Joshi government reinstated it, making Jaipur the sixth division.

Development of divisions

• 7th Division: Bharatpur (declared on June 4, 2005).
• Latest Changes (2023-24): 19 new districts and 3 new divisions were announced in August 2023, but the current status has been changed after the review by Lalit K. Panwar Committee.

Important Committees and Reviews

Committees to be formed:

• Parmesh Chand Committee: (For the formation of Pratapgarh district).
• Ramlubhaya Committee: (For the formation of 19 new districts in the Ashok Gehlot government).

Committees for Review (Bhajanlal Sarkar):

• Cabinet Sub-Committee: To review new districts.
• Convener: Madan Dilawar (formerly Premchand Bairwa).
• Members: Kanhaiyalal, Hemant Meena, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Suresh Singh Rawat.

Current division wise status

Division	Installation	Allotted Districts (Important Districts)
Jodhpur	1949	Jodhpur, Phalodi, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Balotra, Pali, Jalore, Sirohi (8 districts)
Udaipur	1949	Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Rajsamand, Salumbar, Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh (7 districts)
Jaipur	1949	Jaipur, Behror-Kotputli, Dausa, Khairthal, Alwar, Sikar, Jhunjhunu (7 districts)
Bikaner	1949	Bikaner, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Churu (4 districts)
Kota	1949	Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar (4 districts)
Ajmer	1987	Ajmer, Beawar, Tonk, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Bhilwara (6 districts)
Bharatpur	2005	Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Deeg (5 districts)

• At present there are 41 districts and 7 divisions in the state.

Formation of Rajasthan Districts: Chief Ministers and Chronology

Order	District	Formation date	Original district (from which it was separated)	Chief Minister (during whose tenure)
26th	Ajmer	November 1, 1956	Ajmer-Merwara (merged)	Mohanlal Sukhadia
27th	Dhaulpur	April 15, 1982	Bharatpur	Shivcharan Mathur
28th	Baran	April 10, 1991	quota	Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
29th	Dausa	April 10, 1991	Jaipur	Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
30th	Rajsamand	April 10, 1991	Udaipur	Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
31st	Hanumangarh	July 12, 1994	Sri Ganganagar	Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
32nd	Karauli	July 19, 1997	Sawai Madhopur	Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
33rd	Pratapgarh	January 26, 2008	Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Banswara	Vasundhara Raje
34th	Balotra	August 7, 2023	Barmer	Ashok Gehlot
35th	Beawar	August 7, 2023	Ajmer, Pali, Rajsamand, Bhilwara
36th	Phalodi	August 7, 2023	Jodhpur
37th	Salumbhar	August 7, 2023	Udaipur
38th	Dig	August 7, 2023	Bharatpur
39th	Khairthal-Tijara	August 7, 2023	Alwar
40th	Didwana-Kuchaman	August 7, 2023	Nagaur
41st	Kotputli-Behror	August 7, 2023	Jaipur and Alwar

District Collector / District Magistrate

Mauryan period:

• The district was called ‘Ahara’ during the Mauryan period.
• The chief officer of the district was called ‘Sthanik’.
• The description of the reign of Chandragupta Maurya is found in Chanakya’s book ‘Arthashastra’.

Gupta period:

• In the Gupta period, the district was called ‘Vishaya’.
• The District Magistrate was called ‘Vishayapati’.

Mughal period:

• During Mughal rule, the chief officer of the district was called ‘Amil’, who was equivalent to today’s District Collector.
• The Amil was mainly responsible for revenue related works.

District Administration during the British Period:

• During the British period, the word district was first used by the East India Company in 1776 in reference to the Diwan of Calcutta district.
• The post of Collector was first created in India in 1772 during the tenure of Warren Hastings, but it was abolished in 1773. It was subsequently revived in 1781.
• In 1839, district officers were deprived of judicial powers.
• In 1858, the rule of India passed from the hands of the Company to the British Government. In the Indian Constitution, the word district has been used in Article 233 in the context of appointment of district judges.

The term district in the Indian Constitution:

• Appointment of District Judge is mentioned under Article 233 of the Constitution.
• Before 1992 there was no mention of “district” as an administrative unit in the Constitution.

Current district administration:

• District Collector: The top official of the district.
• Police Administration: Under the Superintendent of Police, who is under the control of the Collector.

Functions and roles of the District Collector

As District Magistrate (DM)

In this role, the Collector is responsible for law and order:

• Control over the police: The District Superintendent of Police (SP) works under the direction of the District Magistrate.
• Peacekeeping: To control criminals in case of breach of peace and to enforce Section 163 (formerly Section 144) of the Indian Civil Defence Code.
• Judicial functions: Trial of cases relating to the preventive section and inspection of subordinate magistrates.
• Licensing: Issuing licenses for arms and explosives.
• Inspection: Regular inspection of jails and police stations.
• Special powers: Certifying the execution of the death penalty and allowing post-mortem examination after sunset.
• Other: Checking passports of foreign nationals, enforcement of Press Act and Entertainment Tax Act.

As Collector/Revenue Officer

Role of the Collector in Revenue and Financial Matters:

• Revenue Collection: To collect land revenue and implement the Rajasthan Tenancy Act 1955 and the Land Revenue Act 1956.
• land Management: Land Acquisition, Land Records, Land Reforms and Land Valuation.
• Loan Disbursement: To ensure disbursement of agricultural loans (Takabi loans).
• Disaster Management: Functioning as the Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority under the Disaster Management Act 2005.
• Financial control: Chairing the District Bankers Co-ordination Committee and implementing the Stamp Act.

As District Development Officer and Coordinator

• Monitoring of Development Plans: Implementation of State Government projects in the district.
• Coordination: To act as a link between the district administration, Panchayati Raj institutions, various departments and the state government.
• Public Relations: To act as the Chief Public Relations Officer of the district.
• Committee chairmanship: To chair the District Plan Implementation Committee.

As Chief Administrative Officer

• Election: To conduct elections in the district as Chief Electoral Officer and District Registration Officer.
• Census: To act as Chief Census Officer.
• Supply Management: To ensure the supply of daily essential commodities (food items) through the logistics department.
• Protocol: To look after the arrangements for the arrival of VIPs as Chief Protocol Officer of the district.
• Observation: Inspection and allotment of Treasury, Government residences, Dak Bungalows and Circuit Houses.

Key roles and committees of the District Collector/Magistrate

Position/Role	Related fields	Key Accountabilities
District Election Officer (DEO)	Election Management	Improvement of accident-prone areas (Black Spots) and traffic safety awareness.
Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority	Disaster Management	Leading relief and rescue operations in times of flood, famine or any emergency crisis.
Chairman, Regional Transport Authority (RTA)	Transport system	Route permits of vehicles, enforcement of transport rules and regulation of public transport in the district.
Chairman, District Road Safety Authority	Road safety	Improvement of accident prone areas (Black Spots) and traffic safety awareness.
Chairman, District Tourism Promotion Council	Tourism Development	Maintenance, promotion of local tourist places and organization of cultural festivals.
Chairman, District Development Council (DDC)	Development work	Review of the progress of all government schemes running in the district and coordination between departments.
Chairman, District Vigilance Committee	Anti-corruption	Redressal of public grievances and ensuring transparency in administrative work.
Chairman, District Health Committee	Public Health	Monitoring the functioning of National Health Mission (NHM) and district hospitals.

• Ex-officio Chairman: The District Collector is the ‘ex-officio’ chairman of all these committees, that is, whoever holds the post of Collector will automatically become the head of these committees.

Superintendent of Police

Rajasthan Police Administration

Historical context and symbols

• Foundation Day: April 16 (due to the 1949 ordinance).
• Flag: First flag 1956 (by Nehru), current flag 1992 (by M. Channa Reddy).
• Motto: Fear among criminals, confidence among the public.
• Symbol: Victory Pillar.
• Current Leadership (2025-26): Shri Rajiv Kumar Sharma (DGP).

Integration and installation

• Process of Merger: After independence, the various princely states of Rajasthan were merged and their individual police units were combined to form a single force, the ‘Rajasthan Police’.
• First Chief: In the early years of its establishment, leadership was in the hands of officers on deputation. Shri R. Banerjee took charge as Rajasthan’s first Inspector General of Police (IGP) on April 7, 1949.

Rajasthan Police Regulations (RPR), 1948

• During the tenure of Shri R. Banerjee, the need for a common code for integration of police forces was felt:
  • General Police Code: In 1948, the ‘Rajasthan Police Regulations’ (RPR) were enacted for the United State of Rajasthan.

Police Training and Special Units

• Rajasthan Police Academy (RPA): Established in 1975 in Jaipur. It has seven police training schools under its jurisdiction.
• Sardar Patel Police University: Established in Jodhpur.
• Hadi Rani Women Battalion: Headquarters Nareli (Ajmer).
• Government Railway Police (GRP): Headquarters Ajmer (for the safety of passengers).

Cadre Formation (RPS and IPS)

• Rajasthan Police Service (RPS): The RPS cadre was formed in January 1951, recruiting eligible officers from across the state.
• Indian Police Service (IPS): The “Extension of the Indian Police Service to the States” provision came into effect in September 1951. This paved the way for RPS officers from Rajasthan to be promoted to the IPS.

Important laws and welfare schemes

• Rajasthan Police Act: 2007 (Rules made in 2008).
• Community Liaison Group (C.L.G): * Established under section 55 (Act 2007).
  • Objective: Police-public dialogue.
  • Tenure: 3 years.
• Police Mitra Scheme: Started on June 26, 2019.
• Mahila Shakti Self Defence Training: Starts January 1, 2020.
• Online FIR: Started in Rajasthan from December 18, 2006.
• Rajasthan Police Commission: Constituted on May 5, 2013.

Police Hierarchy in Rajasthan

(Except Jaipur and Jodhpur, where the commissionerate system is in force)

• Chief Minister / Home Minister
• Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department – IAS)
  1. Director General of Police (DGP) – State police chief
  2. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)
  3. Inspector General of Police (IG) – Range Chief
  4. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
  5. Superintendent of Police (SP) – District Head
  6. Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl. SP)
  7. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP/CO) – Circle Officer
  8. Inspector (CI) – Station House Officer (Large Police Station)
  9. Sub-Inspector (SI) – Station House Officer
  10. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI)
  11. Head Constable
  12. Constable (Sepoy)

Police Commissioner System

It started in Rajasthan on 1 January 2011 from Jaipur and Jodhpur.

• Feature: In this the Police Commissioner has the powers of a Magistrate.
• Powers:
  • Imposition of curfew under Section 144 of CrPC.
  • Grant of bail in cases of breach of peace under Section 151 of CrPC.
  • Issuance of arms licenses and implementation of the National Security Act (NSA).
• Rank: An officer of the rank of IG or ADG is appointed to the post of Commissioner.

Commissionerate Hierarchy:

• Commissioner
• Additional Commissioner
• Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) – This post is equivalent to the Superintendent of Police of the district.
• Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP)
• Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) – This post is equivalent to DySP

Rajasthan Police: At a Glance (Infrastructure)

Description	Number
Number of Police Ranges (including GRP)	8
Number of Police Commissionerates	2
Number of police districts	49
Number of Police GRP Districts	2
Number of Police Circles	263
Number of Police Stations (Thana)	1052
Number of police posts	1321
State Armed Police Battalions (including MBC)	22
SIUCAW (Unit for Prevention of Atrocities against Women)	38
Number of SC/ST cells	42

• Commissionerate System: Currently applicable only in Jaipur and Jodhpur.
• SIUCAW: Its full name is Special Investigation Unit for Crime Against Women, which works specifically in the districts for women’s safety.

Rajasthan Police Chief (DGP)

Order	Name
1.	Shri R Banerjee(First)
2.	Shri NC Mishra
5.	Shri Govardhan Lal(Longest tenure)
14.	Shri Rajendra Shekhar
16.	Shri Rajendra Shekhar
32.	Shri Kapil Garg
33.	Dr. Bhupendra Singh
34.	Shri Mohan Lal Lather
35.	Shri Umesh Mishra
36.	Shri Utkal Ranjan Sahu
37.	Dr. Ravi Prakash Mehrada(Minimum tenure)
38.	Shri Rajiv Kumar Sharma(from 03/07/2025 present)

Superintendent of Police (SP)

• The Superintendent of Police (SP) is the highest-ranking officer of a district’s police force. This position was established in India in 1808.
• Appointment: This is an officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS). Appointments are made in two ways:
• Direct Recruitment: (IPS) through UPSC exam.
• Promotion: By promotion from State Police Service (RPS/DySP).
• Control and Administration: The direct control of the Superintendent of Police (SP) lies with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. In Rajasthan, their posting, transfer, and suspension are handled by the Department of Personnel (DOP).
• Tenure:Their tenure is indefinite and depends on the needs of the government.

Main functions and role of SP

The SP is the main link between law and order and administration in the district.

Law & Order

• Maintenance of peace in the district and control of organised crime.
• Regular review of FIR and FR (Final Report).
• Traffic management and issuing NOC for rallies/demonstrations.
• Inspecting the scene of a particular crime.

Internal Administration

• Control: Transfer and suspension of personnel from Constable to Inspector (CI) level.
• Inspection: Regular inspection of police stations and outposts.
• Welfare: Ensuring training and promotion of the police force.

Community Policing

• To increase trust between the public and the police.
• Strengthening police-public relations through CLG (Community Liaison Group).
• Execution of various operations (eg: Operation Aag, Operation Milap/Awaaz).

Sub-Divisional Officer

• In a district, the Superintendent of Police (SP) and the District Collector (DM) work together. The SP heads the police force, but coordinates with the District Magistrate (Collectorate) to maintain law and order. Similarly, at the subdivision level, coordination occurs between the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

• The link between the district and the tehsil. A district is divided into several subdivisions, and each subdivision is assigned to an SDO.
• It functions as a “mini district collectorate”.

Appointment and Service Conditions

• Appointing Authority: Department of Personnel (DOP), Government of Rajasthan.
• Types of appointment:
  • Direct Recruitment: About 66% posts.
  • Promotion : About 34% posts (by promotion from Tehsildar service).
• Transfer, Suspension and Expulsion: All these powers are reserved with the Department of Personnel (DOP) of the State Government.

Designation and multifaceted role

• In Rajasthan, the SDO is known as the “Sub-Divisional Officer and Executive Magistrate.” Their roles can be divided into five main parts:

Duties of Sub-Divisional Officer

As a revenue officer –

• This is the primary role of the SDO under which he is the highest land revenue officer in the subdivision.
• revenue management: Ensuring revenue collection and management of land records (Jamabandi, Map, Mutation).
• Control: Direct administrative control over Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, Girdawar and Patwari.
• Land Conversion: Conversion of agricultural land up to 5,000 square metres for non-agricultural use.
• Implementation of the Acts: Implementation of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act 1956 and the Rajasthan Tenancy Act 1955.
• Encroachment: To stop illegal encroachment on government land and to order stone quarrying.

a punisher –

• Law and order: Maintaining peace in the subdivision.
• Section 163: Issuing orders to invoke Section 163 (BNSS) in case of breach of peace.
• Inspection: Inspecting police stations and sub-jails.

As an administrative officer –

• Coordination: Coordination between various departments and inspection of government offices.
• Certificate: Issuance of Caste and EWS certificate.
• Census: Supervision of livestock and human census operations.
• Logistics arrangement: Monitoring of Public Distribution System (PDS) and ration shops.
• Public hearing: Solution of public problems as Chairman of Sub-Division Level Public Grievance and Vigilance Committee.

an election officer –

• Role: Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) in MP and MLA elections and Returning Officer (RO) in local bodies (PRI/ULB) elections.
• Management: Appointment of BLO, renewal of voter list and voter awareness programmes.
• Code of conduct: To ensure strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the elections.

As Protocol Officer –

• To ensure reception and security/accommodation arrangements for dignitaries (like Central/State Cabinet Ministers) visiting the subdivision area.

Tehsildar

Appointment and Service Conditions

• Rule: Tehsildar works under the “Rajasthan Tehsildar and Naib Tehsildar Service Rules 1958”.
• Appointing Authority: The orders of appointment, transfer, suspension, removal and APO (Awaiting Orders) of Tehsildar are issued by Revenue Board Ajmer.
• Types of appointment:
  • Direct Recruitment: Through RAS/RTS (Rajasthan Tehsildar Service) exam.
  • Promotion: By being promoted from the post of Naib Tehsildar.
• Training: Their training takes place at Rajasthan Revenue Research and Training Centre (RRTI), Ajmer.
• Tenure: The tenure of the Tehsildar is indefinite.
• Naib Tehsildar: Head of Sub-Tehsil (Non-Gazetted).

Duties of Tehsildar

Work as a revenue officer

• To ensure revenue collection (tax collection) in the tehsil.
• Management of land records (Jamabandi, Mutation Register, Land Map).
• Border knowledge: Demarcation of land.
• In discussion: To do the work of the mutual division of land.
• Control over subordinates: To monitor the work of Naib Tehsildar, Girdawar and Patwari.
• Renaming: Accepting the mutation of land.
• Preventing encroachment on government land and assessing crop damage (disaster/damage).
• Implementation of revenue campaigns like ‘Administration with Villages’.

Role as a Magistrate

• Breach of the peace: Grant of bail in cases of breach of peace under Section 151 of CrPC (now BNSS).
• Penalty for encroachment: Power to impose 6 months imprisonment or fine of Rs 200 in cases of encroachment on government land.

Administrative and other roles

• Certificate: Issuance of Domicile, Income and Solvency Certificate.
• Public Grievance: To hear public complaints related to revenue.
• Logistics arrangement: Monitoring of Public Distribution System (PDS) and Fair Price Shops.
• Deputy Registrar: Collection of registration fee and stamp duty at the time of registration.
• Deputy Treasury Officer: Acts as the custodian or caretaker of the sub-treasury of the tehsil. The Tehsildar also functions as the sub-registrar of the tehsil.
• Election work: The Tehsildar acts as Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) in the elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Special deputation and posts

• LAO: As Land Acquisition Officer in Public Works Department (PWD).
• ASO: As Assistant Land Management Officer in the Land Management Department.
• FSO: As Forest Settlement Officer in the Forest Department.
• Development Authority:Tehsildars are also appointed in Jaipur (JDA), Jodhpur (JDA) and Ajmer Development Authority (ADA).

Sub-Tehsil Administration

• The tehsil has been divided into sub-tehsils for administrative convenience.
• Its chief officer is called Naib Tehsildar.
• He is a non-gazetted officer, who is appointed by the Revenue Board, Ajmer.
• Its main function is to collect land revenue as well as to perform judicial and administrative functions assigned to it.

Land Records Inspector (Girdawar/Kanungo)

• He is the chief land revenue officer of the Patwar circle.
• It acts as a link between the Naib Tehsildar and the Patwari.
• The Patwari works directly under him and he checks the records prepared by the Patwari.

Patwari

• The Patwari is the most important revenue administrator at the village panchayat level. After selection, the Patwari is assigned a district by the Revenue Board, Ajmer.
• Recruitment and control: The appointment, suspension and removal of Patwari is done by the District Collector.
• Major Functions:
  • Collection of land revenue at the village level.
  • Going to the fields, assessing the crops and preparing the Girdawari report.
  • To protect and monitor government property in the Gram Panchayat area.
  • Maintenance and updating of land records of account holders.
  • Providing land record copies and reports to farmers.
  • To carry out boundary work and to implement on the ground the Pathargadhi (demarcation) orders given by higher authorities.