Appointment of Home Secretary/Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)

Why in News? Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan’s tenure has been extended till August 22, 2026, according to a recent government order (July 2025).

Relevance : UPSC Pre &  Mains

Prelims : ACC

Mains :   GS 2

• He is a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Sikkim cadre.
• Mr. Mohan was earlier serving as the Culture Secretary before assuming charge as Home Secretary on August 23, 2024.
• He was scheduled to retire on September 30, 2025, but the extension ensures a full two-year tenure, as is standard for the post.

About the Post of Home Secretary:

Who is the Union Home Secretary?

The Union Home Secretary is the administrative head of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and one of the senior-most bureaucrats in the Indian government.

Appointment Process of the Union Home Secretary:

1. Appointing Authority:
   The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by the Prime Minister, appoints the Home Secretary.
2. Eligibility:

1. • Must be a senior IAS officer, generally with at least 30+ years of service.
   • Typically selected from among serving Secretaries or Additional Secretaries at the Centre.

1. Tenure:

1. • As per convention, the Home Secretary is appointed for a fixed tenure of two years.
   • Tenure can be extended based on government discretion, especially in sensitive or strategic contexts.

1. Service Rules:

1. • Governed by All India Services (AIS) Rules.
   • Can continue in service beyond the superannuation age of 60 years if granted an official extension by the government.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Union Home Secretary

• Overseeing internal security, law and order, border management, Centre-State relations, etc.
• Coordinates with agencies like Intelligence Bureau (IB), CRPF, BSF, NIA, and civil administration in states.
• Plays a vital role in handling disaster management, counter-terrorism, and cybersecurity policies.

About ACC:

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) is a key decision-making body in the Government of India responsible for senior-level appointments.

• Establishment: Formed in 1950 under the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961, based on Article 77(3) of the Constitution. It is an extra-constitutional body.

Composition:

• Chaired by the Prime Minister.
• The Minister of Home Affairs is the only other member (currently Amit Shah, as of July 2024).

Functions:

• Approves appointments of senior officials, including Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries, and board-level positions in public sector undertakings.
• Handles empanelments, transfers, and promotions of officers on central deputation.

Secretariat: The Establishment Officer’s Division in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) acts as the ACC’s secretariat, processing appointment proposals.