Chief Secretary is the head of the Secretariat in every state. He is in charge of the administrative setup. His authority includes all departments of the Secretariat. By reason of his experience and standing, he is able to ease out difficulties and frictions to give general guidance to other officers. Thus he gives leadership to the administrative set up of the state. He maintains rapport between the State government and the Union government and other State governments.

Functions:

The Chief Secretary performs the following functions:

• He is the Principal Adviser to the Chief Minister. 
• He acts as the Cabinet Secretary and attends cabinet meetings. 
• He exercises general supervision and control over the entire Secretariat. 
• He looks after all matters beyond the purview of other secretaries. 
• As chief of all the secretaries, he presides over a large number of committees and is a member of many others. 
• He is the secretary by rotation, of the zonal council of which the state is a member. 
• He has control over the staff attached to the ministers. 
• He is the bridge between that State and Central or other state Governments.
• He receives confidential communication from the Government of India and conveys them to the Chief Minister.

As the heed of dying administrative Machinery, Chief of the Civil Services, Mentor and conscience keeper of Civil services, he plays a significant role in the state administration.