New Delhi: The Competent Authority has approved the assignment of additional charge of Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and Secretary, National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to 1991-batch IAS officer Sudhansh Pant.
Pant, a Rajasthan-cadre IAS officer, is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. He will hold the additional responsibilities with immediate effect and until the appointment of regular incumbents or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The latest assignment adds two important constitutional and statutory commission-related responsibilities to Pant’s existing senior-level role at the Centre.
Sudhansh Pant Gets Additional Charge of NCSC and NCBC
Under the latest order, Sudhansh Pant, IAS (RJ:1991), Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, has been entrusted with the additional charge of:
- Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
- Secretary, National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
The arrangement will remain in force until a regular incumbent is appointed or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Pant will continue to discharge his existing responsibilities as Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment while handling the additional assignments.
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Who Is Sudhansh Pant?
Mr Pant is a distinguished 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Rajasthan cadre, with more than three decades of experience in both state and central government.
Over his career, he has handled a wide range of administrative responsibilities spanning district administration, urban development, agriculture, environment, health, pharmaceuticals, ports, shipping and social justice.
He has also served at the highest administrative level in Rajasthan as the state’s Chief Secretary before moving back to the Centre.
Early Life and Education
Pant was born on February 14, 1967 and has his domicile/home-state association with Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
He holds a B.Tech (Hons.) in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering from IIT Kharagpur.
He entered the IAS through the UPSC Civil Services Examination as a direct recruit. He secured an All India Rank of 45 in his second attempt.
His technical educational background has been complemented by a long administrative career across diverse sectors of governance.
Beginning of Career in Rajasthan
Pant began his field career in the Rajasthan cadre as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Jaipur, in 1993.
The early field posting gave him first-hand experience in district administration and public-facing governance before he moved into senior district and departmental responsibilities.
He subsequently served as District Collector and District Magistrate in several districts of Rajasthan.
Among the districts where he served as Collector were Jaisalmer, Jhunjhunu, Bhilwara, Barmer and Jaipur.
His tenure as Jaipur Collector was particularly notable, lasting around two years and 10 months, making it one of his longest district-level assignments.
Key Rajasthan Government Assignments
As his career progressed, Pant handled several important positions within the Rajasthan administration.
He served as Commissioner of the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA), a position involving the planning and development of the state’s capital city.
He also served as Commissioner of Agriculture and held the position of Principal Secretary in the Rajasthan Environment and Forest Department.
These assignments gave him experience across urban planning, agriculture, environmental governance and state-level policy administration.
Chief Secretary of Rajasthan
One of the biggest milestones in Pant’s career came in January 2024, when he was appointed Chief Secretary of Rajasthan.
He took over the state’s top bureaucratic position under the government led by Bhajan Lal Sharma.
As Chief Secretary, Pant was responsible for coordinating the state’s administrative machinery and advising the newly elected government on governance and policy implementation.
His appointment placed him at the centre of Rajasthan’s administrative decision-making apparatus.
Central Deputation and Union Government Roles
Pant has also held several important assignments at the Union Government during his career.
His central deputation included responsibilities in the pharmaceuticals and health sectors.
He served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals and later held a Joint Secretary-level position in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
His experience in these sectors became particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the health and pharmaceutical administration faced unprecedented operational and policy challenges.
Role in National Medical Commission Bill
Pant has also been associated with the development of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill.
His work in the health sector included involvement in the policy and administrative processes surrounding the proposed reforms to medical education and regulation.
He has consequently been described as one of the bureaucrats associated with the development of the NMC framework.
Union Health Secretary
Pant subsequently rose to the position of Union Health Secretary, putting him in charge of one of the most critical ministries of the Union Government.
During his tenure in the health sector, he was involved in major policy and administrative issues concerning India’s healthcare system.
His experience in health administration also included dealing with the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Before his return to Rajasthan as Chief Secretary, Pant also served as Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
The assignment expanded his experience into infrastructure, maritime transport, ports and logistics.
His movement across health, pharmaceuticals and maritime administration reflected the wide range of sectors in which he has served at the Union level.
Return to Centre and Current Role
After serving as Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, Pant returned to the Union Government and was appointed Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
He assumed charge of the department on July 21, 2026.
The department deals with several important areas of social policy, including programmes and initiatives concerning disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of society.
His latest assignment involving the NCSC and NCBC adds further responsibilities related to social justice and the institutional framework for the welfare and rights of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.
Current Responsibilities in 2026
As of September 2026, Pant’s primary assignment is:
- Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
He has now additionally been entrusted with:
- Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Castes and
- Secretary, National Commission for Backward Classes
The additional charge will continue until a regular incumbent is appointed or until further orders.
Pant is serving at Pay Level 17, the highest level in the IAS pay matrix.
A Career Spanning More Than Three Decades
Pant’s career has covered a wide spectrum of administrative responsibilities.
From beginning as an SDM in Jaipur and serving as Collector in multiple Rajasthan districts, he moved into senior state-level assignments before becoming Chief Secretary of Rajasthan.
At the Centre, he has handled pharmaceuticals, health, ports, shipping and social justice, including serving as Union Health Secretary and Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
His latest assignment brings together his existing social justice responsibilities with additional charge of the secretariats of two important national commissions.
Sudhansh Pant’s Career at a Glance
- 1991: Joined the Indian Administrative Service as a Rajasthan-cadre IAS officer.
- 1993: Began field career as SDM, Jaipur.
- District Administration: Served as Collector and District Magistrate in Jaisalmer, Jhunjhunu, Bhilwara, Barmer and Jaipur.
- Jaipur: Served as Collector, Jaipur, for around two years and 10 months.
- State Assignments: Served as Commissioner, Jaipur Development Authority, Commissioner of Agriculture and Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest.
- Central Deputation: Served as Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, and later in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Health Sector: Associated with the National Medical Commission Bill and the Union Government’s COVID-19 response.
- Union Secretary: Served as Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and later as Union Health Secretary.
- January 2024: Appointed Chief Secretary of Rajasthan.
- July 21, 2026: Took charge as Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- September 1, 2026: Given additional charge of Secretary, NCSC and Secretary, NCBC.
- Current Level: Serving at Pay Level 17.
Additional Charge at Two National Commissions
The latest order places Pant in charge of the secretarial functions of both the NCSC and NCBC in addition to his regular department.
The move comes as part of the Centre’s administrative arrangement to ensure continuity in the functioning of the two commissions until regular incumbents are appointed.
For Pant, the assignment adds another significant responsibility to an already extensive central portfolio and further expands his role in the Union Government’s social justice and empowerment framework.
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