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
OIL CSR
OIL Strengthens Healthcare at GMCH with Thulium Fibre Laser Machine Under its CSR Initiative
HUDCO Award
HUDCO Honoured with Rajbhasha Kirti Award at Hindi Diwas and 5th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Conference
Rail Vikas NIgam Limited RVNL
RVNL CMD Vacancy: PESB Shortlists 10 Candidates; Interviews Set for September 15
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
Top IAS Officer Under Probe After Allegedly Abusing Woman TDP MP at CM's Camp Office
IAS Puja Khedkar
Sacked IAS Officer Puja Khedkar’s Home Linked to Missing Truck Driver Rescue, Police Face Obstruction
IAS Amit Khare
Who Is IAS Amit Khare? Newly Appointed Secretary to the Vice-President of India on a Three-Year Contract
Navjot Singh Finance Ministry Official Killed in Delhi BMW Hit-and-Run
Who Was Navjot Singh? Finance Ministry Official Killed in Delhi BMW Hit-and-Run; Family Alleges Cover-Up, Wife Critical
Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra
Govt Eases Norms for Jan Aushadhi Kendras in Metros and Million-Plus Cities
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Parveen Kaswan Interview
IFS Parveen Kaswan: Frontline Defender of India’s Wildlife and Jaldapara Rhino Protector | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
Irfan Rasool Wani IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
Conserving Kashmir’s Green Heritage: IFS Officer Irfan Rasool Wani on Restoring Wular Lake
UP PPCF Sunil Chaudhary Interview IFS Interview
Planting a Tree in the Name of Mother Earth: Uttar Pradesh’s Green Journey with PCCF Sunil Chaudhary | Exclusive Interview | Eco Warrior Awards 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ishwarlal Gurjar UPSC
10th Grade Failure to Indian Police Service: Ishwarlal Gurjar’s UPSC Success Path
Read the inspiring journey of Ishwarlal Gurjar from a small village in Rajasthan to becoming an IPS officer....
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...
Social Media
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
Tamil Nadu Gaur Rescue
Tiruchirappalli Forest Officials Risk Lives to Rescue Juvenile Gaur; Video Shared by IAS Officer Goes Viral
Trichy forest and fire teams risk lives to rescue a juvenile Indian gaur; IAS officer Supriya Sahu shares...
IAS Medha Roopam
IAS Medha Roopam’s Inspiring Dedication in Flood-Hit Noida Goes Viral: Focuses on Relief, Education Amid Heavy Rains
Books in One Hand, Umbrella in Other: Noida DM Medha Roopam Leads Flood Relief from the Front
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
OIL CSR
OIL Strengthens Healthcare at GMCH with Thulium Fibre Laser Machine Under its CSR Initiative
HUDCO Award
HUDCO Honoured with Rajbhasha Kirti Award at Hindi Diwas and 5th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Conference
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Parveen Kaswan Interview
Irfan Rasool Wani IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
UP PPCF Sunil Chaudhary Interview IFS Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT