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
ministry of rural
Moona Yasmin and Alagu Varsini V S Appointed as Deputy Secretaries in Department of Rural Development- Know more about them
RBI
Govt Clarifies Rs 500 Notes Here to Stay; RBI Focuses on Rs 100 & Rs 200 Availability
ministry of rural development
2013-Batch IPoS Officer Moona Yasmin Appointed as Deputy Secretary in Department of Rural Development
PSU Banks
India Ratings Flags Profit Dip for Banks in FY26 Despite Strong Credit Growth
Kartavya-Bhavan
PM Modi to Inaugurate Kartavya Bhavan, Ushering New Era of Efficient Governance
Chhattisgarh Forest Department
Chhattisgarh: Forest Dept Recommends Approval for Controversial Coal Mining Project in Hasdeo Arand, Over 4.5 Lakh Trees at Risk
ACC-Resized
ACC Approves 33 Technical Members for GST Appellate Tribunal; Senior IRS & IAS Officers Take Key Roles - Details Inside
all-women IFS leadership India
Historic All-Women IFS Leadership Meets Environment Secretary to Chart Future of Forest Protection
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Aditya Singh
How IAS Officer Aditya Singh is Redefining Governance in Madhya Pradesh | Video Interview 
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
ministry of rural
Moona Yasmin and Alagu Varsini V S Appointed as Deputy Secretaries in Department of Rural Development- Know more about them
RBI
Govt Clarifies Rs 500 Notes Here to Stay; RBI Focuses on Rs 100 & Rs 200 Availability
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Aditya Singh
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT