Sujata Saunik, a distinguished 1987 batch IAS officer, has made history by becoming the first female Chief Secretary of Maharashtra. She assumed office on Sunday, succeeding Nitin Kareer, who retired after an extended tenure. Kareer had previously taken over the role from Saunik’s husband, Manoj Saunik.
Before this appointment, Saunik served as the Additional Chief Secretary in the Home Department and the General Administration Department of Maharashtra. With this new role, she becomes the 45th Chief Secretary of the state since its formation in 1960.
Kareer’s retirement was delayed by a three-month extension granted by the central government in March 2024, due to the Lok Sabha elections that concluded on June 4. Sujata Saunik emerged as the top candidate for the Chief Secretary position, surpassing senior bureaucrats Rajesh Kumar and IS Chahal. Her recent empanelment to the secretary rank solidified her position as one of the senior-most bureaucrats in India, compelling the government to appoint her as the Chief Secretary.
Remarkably, Maharashtra now has women occupying its two top administrative positions, with senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla having taken charge as the Director General of Police in January 2024, also as the first woman to hold that post.
Sujata Saunik’s career spans over three decades, during which she has held key positions including Additional Chief Secretary of the Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department (SDEED) and Principal Secretary of Public Health and Financial Reform at the state level. She has also contributed to significant studies and projects, including an Oxford Policy Management study on the outcomes of the Women and Child and School Education departments.
Her federal experience includes roles in the Women and Child and Disaster Management departments, as well as participation in two United Nations humanitarian missions in Cambodia and Kosovo.
