The order of Precedence is a protocol list in which the functionaries and authorities are recorded by rank and office in the Government of India. It is meant for State and Ceremonial occasions. It has no application in the day-to-day business of Government. The order is established by the President of India, and is maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Important for the IAS Exam, this article will provide you the table of precedence for Indian Polity subject preparation.
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Table of Precedence in Republic of India
The table mentions the protocol list of the Indian functionaries recorded by ranks and office:
| Table of Precedence – Republic of India | |
| 1 | President |
| 2 | Vice-President |
| 3 | Prime Minister |
| 4 | Governors of States within their respective States |
| 5 | Former Presidents |
| 5A | Deputy Prime Minister |
| 6 | Chief Justice of India |
| 7 | Cabinet Ministers of the Union
Chief Ministers of States within their respective States Deputy Chairman Planning commission (NITI Aayog) Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha |
| 7A | Holders of Bharat Ratna decoration |
| 8 | Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries accredited to India
Chief Ministers of States (outside their respective States) Governors of States (outside their respective States) |
| 9 | Judges of Supreme Court |
| 9A | Chairperson of Union Public Service Commission
Chief Election Commissioner |
| 10 | Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
Deputy Chief Ministers of States Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Members of the Planning Commission Ministers of State of the Union National Security Advisor |
| 11 | Attorney General of India
Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Governors within their respective Union Territories Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister |
| 12 | Chiefs of Staff holding the rank of full General or equivalent rank
● General of the Indian Army ● Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force ● Admiral of the Indian navy |
| 13 | Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary accredited to India. |
| 14 | Chairmen and Speakers of State Legislatures (within their respective States.)
Chief Justices of High Courts (within their respective jurisdictions) |
| 15 | Cabinet Ministers in States (within their respective States)
Chief Ministers of Union Territories (within their respective Union Territories) Chief Executive Councillor, Delhi (within their respective Union Territories) Deputy Ministers of the Union |
| 16 | Officiating Chiefs of Staff holding the rank of Lieutenant General or equivalent rank. |
| 17 | Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal
Chairman of Minorities Commission Chairperson of National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairperson of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Chief Justices of High Courts (outside their respective jurisdictions) Puisne Judges of High Courts (within their respective jurisdictions) Judicial Members, National Green Tribunal (NGT) |
| 18 | Cabinet Ministers in States (outside their respective States)
Chairmen and Speakers of State Legislatures (outside their respective States) Chairman of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission Deputy Chairmen and Deputy Speakers of State Legislatures (within their respective States) Ministers of State in States (within their respective States) Ministers of Union Territories and Executive Councilors, Delhi (within their respective Union Territories) Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories (within their respective Union Territories) Chairman of Delhi Metropolitan Council (within their respective Union Territories) |
| 19 | Chief Commissioners of Union Territories not having Councils of Ministers( within their respective Union Territories)
Deputy Ministers in States ( within their respective States) Deputy Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories (within their respective Union Territories) Deputy Chairman of metropolitan Council Delhi (within their respective Union Territories) |
| 20 | Deputy Chairmen and Deputy Speakers of State Legislatures (outside their respective states)
Ministers of State in States(outside their respective States) Puisne Judges of High Courts (outside their respective jurisdictions) |
| 21 | Members of Parliament |
| 22 | Deputy Ministers in State outside their respective States |
| 23 | Army Commanders/ Vice-Chief of the Army Staff or equivalent in other services
Chief Secretaries to State Governments within their respective States Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Members, Minorities Commission Members, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Members, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Officers of the rank of full General or equivalent rank Secretaries to the Government of India (including officers holding this office ex-officio). Secretary, Minorities Commission. Secretary, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission. Secretary to the President. Secretary to the Prime Minister. Secretary, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Solicitor General Vice-Chairman, Central Administrative Tribunal |
| 24 | Officers of the rank of Lieutenant General or equivalent rank. |
| 25 | Additional Secretaries to the Government of India.
Additional Solicitor General Advocate Generals of States. Chairman, Tariff Commission Charge d’ Affairs and Acting High Commissioners a pied and ad interim Chief Ministers of Union Territories and Chief Executive Councillor, Delhi (outside their respective Union Territories) Chief Secretaries of State Governments (outside their respective States) Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Deputy Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and Deputy Chairman, Delhi Metropolitan Council,( outside their respective Union Territories) Director, Central Bureau of Investigation Director General, Border Security Force. Director General, Central Reserve Police. Director, Intelligence Bureau Lieutenant Governors(outside their respective Union Territories) Members, Central Administrative Tribunal Members, Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission Members, Union Public Service Commission Ministers of Union Territories and Executive Councillors, Delhi,(outside their respective Union) Territories. Principal Staff Officers of the Armed Forces of the rank of major General or equivalent rank Speakers of Legislative Assemblies in Union Territories and Chairman of Delhi, Metropolitan Council, outside their respective Union Territories |
| 26 | Joint Secretaries to the Government of India and officers of equivalent rank Officers of the rank of Major-General or equivalent rank |
UPSC Questions Related to Table of Precedence
UPSC Prelims 2000
1. Consider the following functionaries:
- Cabinet Secretary
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Union Cabinet Minister
- Chief Justice of India
Their correct sequence in the Order of Precedence is:
A. 3, 4, 2, 1
B. 4, 3, 1, 2
C. 4, 3, 2, 1
D. 3, 4, 1, 2
Answer: C
UPSC Prelims 2003
2. As per Indian Protocol, who among the following ranks highest in the order of precedence?
- Deputy Prime Minister
- Former President
- Governor of a State within his state
- Speaker of Lok Sabha
Answers: C
UPSC Prelims 2004
3. Which one of the following are the correct sequences in the descending order of precedence in the warrant of procedure?
- Attorney General of India—Judges of the Supreme Court –Members of Parliamnet—Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
- Judges of the Supreme Court—Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha—Attorney General of India—Members of Parliament
- Attorney General of India Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha—Judges of the Supreme Court—Members of Parliament
- Judges of the Supreme Court—Attorney General of India—Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha—Members of Parliament
Answer: B
Indian Order Of Precedence – Conclusion
It is good to know the table of precedence for the Civil Service as the latter is all about administration and governance. It is considered as the toughest examination in the country conducted by the Union Public Service commission. Before you prepare for country’s most prominent and difficult examination, it is essential to know about the basic things about the administration. That is why polity plays an important role in Civil Services Examination syllabus. Polity is an important topic at all the three stages of exam. It shapes an essential piece of administration. The order of Precedence is a very basic thing of polity.
Table of Precedence – UPSC Notes:-Download PDF Here
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