Kerala Secretariat Departments



Kerala Commissions



The Secretariat of the Government of Kerala is branched into 35 departments for the purpose of effective administration and distribution of duties. This leads to appropriating of job functions and proper administration. The Departments and their functions are as follows.

The Agriculture Department deals with the various projects formulated to enhance the yield of cash crops and food crops in the state besides dealing with soil conservation, provision of high yield seeds, and farmers' education in matters of new cultivation methods and use of technology to increase production.

The Coastal Shipping & Inland Navigation Department looks into the waterways of the state, from the passenger cruises and backwater navigation to the more commercial freight vessels and the entire shipping industry. It offer subsidies and runs various schemes to promote the vessel building industry as well.

The Co-operation Department looks into the running and administration of the 11690 Co-operative Societies in the state. These are categorized into Handloom Co-operatives, Coir Co-operatives, Khadi and Village Industries Co-operatives, Other Industrial Co-operatives, Milk Marketing Co-operatives, Fisheries Co-operatives, Primary APCOS. One of the primary duties of this department is to administer the functioning of the cooperative banks

The Cultural Affairs Department’s primary aims are to conserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the state. The department administers to the various institutions which promote these performing/ritual arts and literature etc. The arts and culture that is slowly dying out is being revived by this department’s efforts and being taught to the younger generations.

The Finance Department assists the state government in matters of financing and budget preparation. It is also assigned the function of drawing up the policies regarding pay, compensations and other service benefits of the state Government employees. The department also looks into Local Fund Audit, National Savings, State Lotteries, State Insurance and Treasuries.

The Fisheries Department looks into only into the fishing industry and but also the workers of this sector. The estimated potential of the marine fisheries of Kerala is about 5.17 lakh tonnes. The sector employs about 249 thousand people directly (i.e. the fishermen) and allied services employ about 165 thousand people (e.g. packaging, exporting industries)

>Home Department looks into the police forces, the prisons, the fire and rescue services and the civil defense services of the state.

The Housing Department looks after the housing sector in the state. The formulation and implementation of the various housing schemes especially for the citizens falling under the economically lower strata of the state falls under the functioning of this department. The Kerala State Housing Board is governed by this department.

The Industries Department’s duties include boosting and patronizing, registering, funding and advising industries in Kerala. It also guides new entrepreneurs and regulates the directorates of several industries such as industries and commerce, handloom and textiles, coir development, mining and geology and 72 public sector undertakings

The Information Technology Department is guided by the Kerala State Information Technology Mission which interfaces between the Government and other commercial institutions of the IT industry, enhances the functioning of the IT industry thereby attracting investors into the state, guides with e-governance and human resource development in the IT industry.

The Labour & Rehabilitation Department is headed by a Secretary to the Government and attempts to assuage amicable industrial relations. The enforcement of the labor and industrial laws is also the forte of this department. It formulates schemes and looks into the implementation of various welfare schemes for the industrial laborers and their families. The department has instituted a number of welfare boards to provide these different classes of industrial workers and their kinsfolk the basic privileges and amenities that they are generally denied. The department also plays mediator in case of a conflict between the industrial workers and management and resolves these to the full satisfaction of both parties.

The Law Department has been categorized according to it sfunctions as Law (Administration), Law(legislation), Law (Opinion), Law (Suits), Law (Publication), Law (Translation), Law (Inspection), Law (Parliamentary), Law (Monitoring Cell), Law (Notaries), Law (Unified Special Cell), Law (Library), Law (Records) and Law (Nodal). This gives us a clear idea that the department is in charge of maintaining justice in the state.

The Local Self Government Department looks into the working of the local self government agencies such as the Gram Panchayats and the Municipal Corporations.

The Non- Resident Keralites Affairs Department looks into the welfare of the lakhs of Keralites who have migrated to different parts of the world such as the Persian Gulf, to Western Europe, the United States of America. The Government wishes to maintain cordial relations and good communication with these Malayalis and hence this department was set up in Dec 1996.

The Parliamentary Affairs Department looks into the workings of the parliament in the state, the schemes for the well being of the parliamentarians and their families and their security. It also organizes constitutional trainings and workshops to facilitate the working of the Assembly.

The Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department advises on matters of employment and looks into application rules & regulations, compassionate employment, holding tests and correction, appointment of Ex-Servicemen, training and conducting workshops. Framing of special rules and delegation of authority also falls under this departments working.

The Planning & Economic Affairs Department formulates the Annual Plan and Five year plans and implements these. It also keeps a close watch over the many schemes floated by the government such as the Sub Plan for SC/ST, formulates the economic policies concerning the state and central governments and monitors the Twenty Point programs.

The Power Department regulates the State Electricity Board and administers issues relating to power policy, tariff revision and new investments.

The Public Works Department looks into the construction and maintenance of the road network in the state. This includes 1,560 kms of National Highways, 4,115 kms of State Highways and 11,138 kms of Major District Roads among others. The roadways of Kerala is an excellent one and its importance is highly emphasized by the traffic of motor vehicles for trade and tourist purposes.

The Revenue Department looks into the land records updating, survey operations and land management of the state. Kerala is made up of 14 districts, 21 revenue divisions, 63 taluks and 1453 villages. These districts are headed by the district collectors. The Director of Survey and Land Records, the Land Board and the Institute of Land Management are all administered by this department.

The Scheduled Caste Development Department runs educational programs, economic development programs and social upliftment and welfare programs in the interests of the schedule caste families of the state. The educational programs include provision of primary, secondary and higher education, prizes and incentives for performance, vocational training, financial aids and such schemes. The economic development includes job reservation, training, rehabilitation, aid for entrepreneurs, lawyers etc. Social security and a variety of grants are also organized by this department.

The Scheduled Tribe Development Department strives for the upliftment of the Scheduled tribes of the state. The department has set up nursery schools and one teacher schools and Balavadis to inculcate better culture and hygienic habits among them. Education facilities upto the college level has been provided for these students. A number of added benefits such as tuition fees, job procurement aid, financial aid to parents, clothes and boarding aid, assistance in traveling to interviews etc. have been provided by this department to the various schedule tribe families across the state.

The Science Technology & Environment Department attempts at inculcating the scientific temper among the people. It articulates the policies of science and technology for the state of Kerala. This department is headed by an eminent Scientist who acts as the Ex-Officio Secretary. This personality assimilates the Government's enterprises towards inculcating science and Technology in our everyday lives. He attempts to lead the common man towards excellence in these fields. Various scientific and research institutions and organizations come under the purview of this department. .

The Social Welfare Department runs a plethora of schemes such as Special Nutrition Programme, Women’s Welfare, Child Welfare, Welfare of the Disabled, Integrated Child Development Service Schemes, Juvenile Justice Administration, Women Empowerment Programme, Balika Samridhi Yojana, IWEP, KSY, PMGY, Adoption, Street children programme and Victim rehabilitation programme. The department spearheads the welfare drive in the state and aims to help the weaker sections of society such as destitute women, orphans, the elderly and the disabled citizens. Special attention is paid to the families which are classified as living below poverty line and all attempts are made by the department to improve their economic and living conditions. The department with its excellent NGO network and grass root level workers has been greatly successful in improving the standards of the feebler sections of society.

The Stores Purchase Department organizes the centralized purchases made by the state Government. It is involved in formulating guidelines for purchases made in the individual departments. The Principal Secretary, Finance heads the department for stores purchase.

The Taxes Department’s major functions include Registration of tax dealers, the assessing and collecting of sales tax and agricultural income tax, locating the tax evaders and closing up of loopholes in the tax structure leading to such evasion, collection of tax arrears and looking into the revision petitions. The department also ensures the proper working of 44 sales tax check posts in Kerala.

The Transport Department’s major functions include staunch enforcement of the motor vehicles act, collecting road taxes, issuance of driving licenses and conductors’ licenses, registration of new motor vehicles, granting vehicle permits and educating the public about road safety.

The Vigilance Department’s the nexus of anti corruption activities of the state of Kerala. In case of complaints against Government officials and public servants in matters of corruption, bribery and wrongful conduct, enquiries and investigations are undertaken by this department

The Water Resources Department’s functions are categorized as major, medium and minor irrigation (surface water), anti sea erosion, flood control, inland water transport, irrigation design & research, investigation. Given the number of irrigation canals and backwaters in Kerala the responsibility shouldered by this department is indeed great.


Last Updated on : 12/06/2013