Maharashtra got its first woman chief secretary in its 64-year history, who is Sujata Saunik?

IAS Sujata Saunik has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra. She became the first woman to hold this post in the 64-year history of the state. She has been appointed by Eknath Shinde. Sujata Saunik is a 1987 batch IAS officer. Before Sujata, her husband Manoj Saunik has also held the post of Chief Secretary of the state. Sujata Saunik's tenure as Chief Secretary will be one year and she will retire in June 2025. She took charge from Chief Secretary Nitin Karir on Sunday.

The husband has also been the Chief Secretary of the state

According to media reports, Sujata Saunik is a senior IAS officer of the state and is the wife of retired IAS officer Manoj Saunik. Apart from this, Manoj Saunik has also previously served as the Chief Secretary of the state. With the appointment of Sujata Saunik, this will be the first time that a husband and wife will be the Chief Secretary.

Nitin Kareer given the charge of Chief Secretary

Nitin Kareer was given an additional tenure of three months by the Eknath Shinde government of Maharashtra. After the completion of that period, Sujata Saunik has now been appointed to this post. Meanwhile, there was a discussion that Nitin Kareer's tenure would be extended once again, but instead of doing so, the state government has appointed Sujata Saunik. Kareer handed over the charge of the state's Chief Secretary to Sujata Saunik at a ceremony held at the State Secretariat Mantralaya in South Mumbai on Monday evening.

Three decades of experience

Before being promoted as Chief Secretary, Sujata Saunik was Additional Chief Secretary in the state Home Department. Sujata Saunik has over three decades of experience in public policy and governance in healthcare, finance, education, disaster management and peacebuilding at the district, state and federal levels and in international organisations as part of the Indian Administrative Service and the United Nations.

Career of Sujata Saunik

IAS Sujata Saunik is a Techmi Fellow at Harvard University's School of Public Health and has held key positions in her civil service career spanning nearly 40 years. Sujata Saunik has served as Advisor, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Joint Secretary, Central Social Welfare Board, Executive Director, Ministry of Women and Child Development.

He has also served as a municipal administrator and civil affairs officer in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, and as a civil affairs officer and election monitor for Cambodia.