	Joint secretary is an "ex-cadre" post, that means anyone can occupy it, but the position holder is mostly a career civil servant and is a government official of high seniority. The civil servants who hold this rank and post are either from All India Services (on deputation; on tenure, after empanelment) or Central Civil Services (Group A; on empanelment). All promotions and appointments to this rank and post are directly made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet of India.