[9] Joint secretaries in the Union Government[10][11][12] is analogous to Major General[13] and equivalent ranks[14] in the Indian Armed Forces and are listed as such in the Order of Precedence.

[15][16][17][18] In the Department of Military Affairs of the Ministry of Defence, an officer from all the three armed forces of the rank of Major General and equivalent[19] is currently appointed and designated as Joint Secretary (Army/Navy/AirForce).

[20][21] The Special Protection Group is sometimes headed by an Inspector General rank holder,[22][23] who is designated as Joint Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat.

In 2020, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions memorandum stated that Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has directed that not less than two years experience at deputy secretary/director (GOI) level under the Central Staffing Scheme shall be mandatory for empanelment at joint secretary level (GOI) at the Centre in respect of IAS officers from 2007 batch.

[33] On deputation, Joint Secretary (GOI) can hold senior positions at the United Nations, such as India's permanent representative to UNESCO,[34] Conference on Disarmament.

[46] They are allotted Type-V (D-II and D-I) and Type-VI (C-II) apartments in areas like New Moti Bagh across Delhi by Ministry of Urban Development's Directorate of Estates.

Non-IAS civil services have complained to Government of India because of lack of empanelment in the rank/post of joint secretary on numerous occasions.

[53] Under the prime ministership of Narendra Modi, however, the situation has slightly altered, choices for civil servants being appointed to this rank and post were from non IAS cadre.

In 2009, 20th Governor of Reserve Bank of India Bimal Jalan had voiced for posts at the level of joint secretary to be opened up to outside competition.

[56] In June 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced opening up 10 posts of joint secretary (GOI) rank/post in several departments to experts in several fields through lateral entry.

[59][60] In 2023, Supreme Court of India held that there was no need for the Central Bureau of Investigation to seek prior sanction for the prosecution of joint secretary (GOI) and above-rank officers in cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.