The Chief Secretary is the senior-most civil servant in a state and acts as the administrative head of the state secretariat. While the Governor formally appoints the Chief Secretary, the decision is usually based on the recommendation of the Chief Minister and the choice of the incumbent Chief Minister, often selecting the seniormost IAS officer. The position does not have a constitutionally fixed tenure; the tenure depends on the discretion of the Chief Minister and can be extended or curtailed based on administrative needs and political considerations.