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.