From NCERT :- On August 13, 1990, the Government of India issued an Order. It was called an Office Memorandum. Like all government orders, it had a num- ber and is known by that: O. M. No. 36012/31/90-Est (SCT), dated 13.8.1990. —————The Joint Secretary, an officer in the Department of Person- nel and Training in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances andPensions, signed the Order.

Answer:

The correct answer is option 'B', Joint Secretary.

Explanation:

The office order dated 13-8-1990 regarding the reservation of seats was signed by the Joint Secretary. Let's understand the roles and responsibilities of different designations in an office setting to understand why the correct answer is Joint Secretary.

- Secretary: The Secretary is the head of the office and is responsible for overall management, decision-making, and coordination of activities. They have the authority to sign official documents and orders. However, in most cases, they delegate their powers to lower-level officials for routine matters.

- Joint Secretary: The Joint Secretary is a senior officer in the office hierarchy who assists the Secretary in their functions. They have decision-making authority and are responsible for the smooth functioning of the office. Joint Secretaries often sign official orders and documents on behalf of the Secretary.

- Deputy Secretary: The Deputy Secretary is a mid-level officer who assists the Joint Secretary and performs various administrative tasks. They may sign certain orders and documents, but their authority is usually limited compared to the Joint Secretary.

- Under Secretary: The Under Secretary is a lower-level officer who assists the Deputy Secretary and performs administrative tasks. They handle day-to-day operations, maintain records, and provide support to higher-level officials. Their authority to sign official orders may be further limited.

In the given question, the office order dated 13-8-1990 regarding reservation of seats was signed by the Joint Secretary. This indicates that the Joint Secretary, being a senior officer responsible for decision-making, signed the order on behalf of the Secretary.