Functions of State Secretariat have been ever expanding since the time of its formation. There are a multitude of issues which the state governments have to deal with in their day-to-day administration, and accordingly the role and functions of the Secretariat have also increased accordingly, as it is the Secretariat which aids and advises the Government in the exercise of its duties.

General Functions of State Secretariat
General functions of the State Secretariat in India deal with the following matters- all matters of general policy; inter-departmental coordination; matters involving the framing of new legal enactments of rules or amendments in the existing ones.

Cases involving interpretation or relaxation of existing rules or government orders; correspondence with the Government of India and other State Governments; all matters relating to the preparation or adoption of new plan schemes, and important modifications in the existing schemes; review of the progress of the plan schemes- both physical and financial; inspection reports and tour notes recorded by heads of departments; all India conferences and important conferences at the State level; Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee; Assembly/Parliament questions; delegation of powers; litigation notices under section 80 CPC; appeals, revisions, etc., within the powers of the State Governments in India.

Financial functions of State Secretariat
In matters of finance, the State Secretariat sees to the following aspects- scrutiny and approval of departmental budget estimates, major appropriation of accounts, surrender of funds and supplementary grants; all proposals involving new items of expenditure; financial sanctions not within the competence of the head of department; sanction of expenditure from contingency fund; write-off cases beyond the powers of heads of department and audit objections regarding the offices of the heads of department.

The State Secretariat also sees to certain service matters. Following in this category of functions are the following- approval of service rules and amendments thereto; papers relating to senior appointments/promotions/transfers of deputy heads of department and above and cases of disciplinary proceedings against these officers; initial appointment of officers belonging to the State service and infliction of major punishments on them; creation of posts, their extension and continuance, re-employment, resignations, special pay and allowances and pensions not within the powers of heads of department.