https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Historic Appointment: IAS Sujata Saunik Becomes Maharashtra’s First Female Chief Secretary

She is set to retire in June next year, after a distinguished career that has spanned several critical administrative domains in the state.
Indian Masterminds Stories

In a significant milestone for gender representation in Maharashtra’s bureaucracy, senior IAS officer Sujata Saunik has been appointed as the state’s first female Chief Secretary. Ms. Saunik, a seasoned IAS officer from the 1987 batch, assumed office on June 30, succeeding Nitin Kareer upon his retirement.

She currently holds the position of Additional Chief Secretary in the state’s Home Department and has recently been promoted to the post of Secretary.

Previously, she served as Additional Chief Secretary in the General Administration Department and has also worked in other departments, including Public Health.

Her appointment, unanimously endorsed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, marks a pivotal moment ahead of the state’s upcoming Assembly elections. It coincides with the government’s recent launch of the Fourth Women Policy, highlighting a commitment to women’s empowerment.

The transition ceremony took place at Mantralaya, the State Secretariat in Mumbai, where Ms. Saunik formally received charge from Mr. Kareer. Prior to her elevation, she held the position of Additional Chief Secretary in the Home Department, and has served in various key roles including public health and general administration.

Ms. Saunik’s appointment follows another trailblazing achievement earlier this year when Rashmi Shukla was appointed as the first woman Director General of Police in Maharashtra. These appointments signify a progressive shift towards gender parity in Maharashtra’s leadership positions.

Despite challenges and previous oversights, Ms. Saunik’s ascendancy to the Chief Secretary role underscores her resilience and competence in public service.

She is set to retire in June next year, after a distinguished career that has spanned several critical administrative domains in the state. She brings over 37 years of expertise in public policy and governance across healthcare, finance, education, disaster management, and peacekeeping.

She originally belongs to Haryana. She is a Takemi Fellow from the School of Public Health at Harvard Universit. Ms Saunik also served six years in Yugoslavia and one year in Cambodia as a representative of the United Nations.

Prior to becoming the chief secretary, Saunik, whose husband Manoj Saunik, also an IAS officer of 1987 batch, is also a former state chief secretary, served as the additional chief secretary in the state’s home department.

As Maharashtra welcomes its first female Chief Secretary, Ms. Saunik’s tenure is poised to set new benchmarks in governance and administration, reflecting broader strides towards inclusive leadership and gender equality in the state’s bureaucratic landscape.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
ACC Approves Major Reshuffle: 15 Bureaucrats, Including 12 IAS, Promoted to Additional Secy; Sudeep Jain Named NCW Member Secy
IAS Aunjaneya Kumar Singh IAS Anjaneya Singh
IAS Aunjaneya Singh Stays in UP, Centre Approves One-Year Extension After 48-Hour Exit
Chhattisgarh CM Investment Japan visit (3)
Chhattisgarh Woos Japanese Investors in Osaka, Signs $11.45 Million MoU with Sartaj Foods
MP Power Sector Recruitment 2025
MP CM Mohan Yadav to Distribute Appointment Letters to 1,060 Power Sector Recruits in Bhopal on August 26
UPSC Easy paper
UPSC Mains Essay Topics 2025: A Test of Thought Leadership, Not Just Writing Skills
Mumbai Chalta Hai MGL Par
MGL Launches Brand Campaign ‘Mumbai Chalta Hai, MGL Par’ to Celebrate Its Vital Role in City’s Pulse
Sonali Mishra motivates
UP Cadre IPS Sonali Mishra Inspires NCC Cadets in Bareilly, Emphasizes Power of the Uniform
NHPC Resized
NHPC’s Solar Expansion: 300 MW Bikaner Project Full Commissioning Now Due in September
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
ACC Approves Major Reshuffle: 15 Bureaucrats, Including 12 IAS, Promoted to Additional Secy; Sudeep Jain Named NCW Member Secy
IAS Aunjaneya Kumar Singh IAS Anjaneya Singh
IAS Aunjaneya Singh Stays in UP, Centre Approves One-Year Extension After 48-Hour Exit
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT