It’s a known fact that India is the largest democracy in the world. Given democracy is essentially about populace, it’s us who elect the government empowering it to run the country. Our Constitution is primarily shaped and moulded for the common man that’s why it confers us with the all important fundamental rights. There is no denying that we are fortunate enough to live at one of the best places in the world. But have you ever wondered what is the rank of a common man like us in terms of citizenship. We all know president of India is the first citizen of the country followed by the vice president. For those who are unaware, we are 27th citizen of the country.
Here is the order of precedence of the Republic of India in terms of citizenship.
1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Prime Minister
4. Governors of States within their respective States
5. Former Presidents
5 A. Deputy Prime Minister
6. Chief Justice of India Speaker of Lok Sabha
7. Cabinet Ministers of the Union. Chief Ministers of States within their respective States Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Former Prime Ministers 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
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9A. Chairperson, Union Public Service Commission Chief Election Commissioner Comptroller & Auditor General of India
10. Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chief Ministers of States Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha Members of the Planning Commission Ministers of State of the Union {and any other Minister in the Ministry of Defence for defence matters}
11. Attorney General of India. Cabinet Secretary. Lieutenant Governors within their respective Union Territories
12. Chiefs of Staff holding the rank of full General or equivalent rank.
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 and 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, Central Administrative Tribunal. Chairman, Minorities Commission Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Chief Justices of High Courts outside their respective jurisdictions Puisne Judges of High Courts within their respective jurisdictions
18. Cabinet Ministers in States outside their respective States Chairmen and Speakers of State Legislatures outside their respective States Chairman, 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 and 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 and Deputy Chairman of metropolitan Council Delhi, within their respective Union Territories.
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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/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
27. It’s us the common man
Photo: Indian Express
Note: Table of Precedence is meant for State and Ceremonial occasions and has no application in the day-to-day business of Government.
(Source: Home Ministry)
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