The Executive Branch of Uttarakhand
The Executive Branch of Uttarakhand
The Executive Branch of Uttarakhand
The Executive Branch of Uttarakhand : The executive branch in Uttarakhand state includes the Governor as the head of the state along with the Chief Minister and his council of ministers. It also includes the state secretariat comprising various departments and their executing agencies called directorates.
Governor – The Constitutional Head
As per the Indian Constitution, the Governor of Uttarakhand is appointed by the President of India for a term of 5 years. The Governor is the de jure head of the state government and all executive actions are taken in his/her name. However, the Governor has to act on the aid and advice of the popularly elected Chief Minister and cabinet who exercise de facto executive authority in the state.
Key Points about Governor
- Official residence is Raj Bhavan in Dehradun
- Uttarakhand also has a second Raj Bhavan in Nainital which served as summer capital of United Provinces during British rule
- 7 people have served as Uttarakhand’s Governor so far including the incumbent Baby Rani Maurya
- Governor has discretionary powers like appointing CM, dismissing ministry, reserving bills etc.
Chief Minister – The Real Executive
The Chief Minister is the head of the Government of Uttarakhand. As per the constitution, executive authority rests with the CM who has confidence of the legislative assembly.
Key Points about Chief Minister
- Appointed by Governor
- Heads council of ministers
- Term is 5 years
- 11 people have served as CM of Uttarakhand
- Current CM is Pushkar Singh Dhami (BJP)
The State Cabinet
The Uttarakhand cabinet comprises ministers heading various departments and portfolios. It is responsible for preparing and implementing policies under leadership of the Chief Minister.
Key Points
- All portfolios legally vested in CM who delegates authority
- Cabinet is collectively responsible to legislative assembly
- Assisted by bureaucrats like department secretaries
The State Secretariat
The state secretariat refers to various administrative departments assisting the political executive i.e. council of ministers. It processes government policies and coordinates with field agencies.
Key Points
- Headed by senior IAS officers as Principal Secretaries
- 20 Point Programme & Implementation
- Agriculture
- Accounts & Entitlement
- Animal Husbandry
- Budget
- Chief Development Officer
- Commercial Tax
- Dairy Development
- Disaster Management
- Elections
- Employment
- Entertainment Tax
- Excise
- Firms, Societies & Chitfunds
- Fisheries
- Food and Civil Supplies
- Forests
- Geology and Mining
- Higher Education
- Information
- Irrigation
- ITDA
- Labour
- Medical Education
- Health and Family Welfare
- Minor Irrigation
- Panchayati Raj
- Police
- Public Works
- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
- Revenue
- Rural Development
- Rural Engineering
- Sanskrit Education
- Sarva Siksha Abhiyan
- School Education
- Sericulture
- Social Welfare
- Sports
- Stamps & Registration
- State Horticulture Mission
- State Planning Department
- Tourism
- Town and Country Planning
- Transport
- Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan
- Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency
- Uttarakhand Rural Roads Development Agency
- Vigilance
- Women and Child Development
Criticism:
- Concentrates lot of power and delays decision making
- Loses connect with field realities
- Postings considered cushy so officers prefer it over field
Directorates – The Real Implementers
While state secretariat processes policies, actual implementation is done by directorates and other field agencies. Some examples:
- Directorate of Agriculture
- Directorate of Animal Husbandry
- Directorate of College Education
- Directorate of Social Welfare
Other implementations agencies:
- Medical Health and Family Welfare headed by Director General
- Police headed by Director General of Police
- Education by Director of Education
- Agriculture by Director of Agriculture
Local Self Government Bodies
Local self government bodies like municipal corporations, municipalities and gram panchayats also form part of executive branch. They implement schemes and deliver public services at grassroot level under overall policy framework of state government.
Conclusion
In summary, executive branch of Uttarakhand state is headed by Governor and comprises Chief Minister, state cabinet, government secretariat, directorates and local self government bodies. While political executive formulates policies, permanent bureaucracy implements them. Collectively they undertake administration and governance of the state.
FAQs:
What is the role of the Governor in Uttarakhand?
The Governor is the constitutional head of the state appointed by the President for 5 years. The governor has discretionary powers but acts on the advice of the Chief Minister and state cabinet.
Who is the current Chief Minister of Uttarakhand?
The current Chief Minister of Uttarakhand is Pushkar Singh Dhami from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
What are the major government departments in Uttarakhand?
Major government departments assisting the state cabinet include finance, home, education, health, rural development, irrigation, transport, industry, tourism etc. Each department has a secretariat and directorates.
What are local governance bodies in Uttarakhand?
Local governance comprises urban bodies like municipal corporations, municipalities, nagar panchayats as well as rural bodies including zila panchayats, block panchayats and gram panchayats.
