The highest-ranking civil servant in Karnataka:

Chief Minister
Governor
Chief Secretary
Principal Secretary

The correct answer is: C) Chief Secretary.

The Chief Secretary is the highest-ranking civil servant in Karnataka. He/She is the administrative head of the state and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the government. The Chief Secretary is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. He/She is a member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and holds the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.

The Chief Secretary is responsible for the following:

  • Providing advice to the Chief Minister and other ministers on administrative matters
  • Overseeing the work of the state government departments
  • Ensuring that the government’s policies are implemented effectively
  • Representing the state government at various forums

The Chief Secretary is assisted by a number of secretaries, who are responsible for different departments of the state government. The secretaries are also members of the IAS.

The Chief Secretary is a key figure in the administration of the state and plays a vital role in ensuring that the government functions smoothly.

The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:

  • The Chief Minister is the head of the state government and is responsible for the overall policy direction of the government. However, he/she is not a civil servant.
  • The Governor is the head of state and is appointed by the President of India. The Governor has a number of constitutional powers, but he/she is not a civil servant.
  • The Principal Secretary is the head of a department of the state government. However, he/she is not the highest-ranking civil servant.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.