Introduction — State Administration in India's Federal Framework

India's federal structure (described as "quasi-federal" by K.C. Wheare and "cooperative federalism" in practice) allocates administrative functions between the Union and states via the Seventh Schedule (Union List, State List, Concurrent List). Rajasthan, as one of India's largest states by area (342,239 sq. km), has a complex administrative machinery.

The state administration of Rajasthan is structured at three tiers:

1. State level: Governor → CM → Council of Ministers → Secretariat → Chief Secretary
2. Divisional level: Divisional Commissioner (7 divisions — Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Kota, Udaipur, Bharatpur)
3. District level: Collector → Sub-Divisional Officers → Tehsildar (covered in T122)