IAS Sujata Saunik, a 1987 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Maharashtra cadre, has had an illustrious career spanning over three decades. A native of Haryana, with Hindi as her mother tongue, she has displayed a remarkable aptitude in administration, working across diverse sectors at both the state and central levels.
The highlight of her illustrious career is surely her recent appointment as Maharashtra’s first female Chief Secretary. Her journey towards this achievement is sure to inspire all female officers and aspirants.
IAS Sujata Saunik holds postgraduate and undergraduate degrees in History and Political Science from Punjab University. She was a Gold medalist and topper in History Honours and her record remained unbroken for several years even after she joined the service.
Her intellectual prowess has been instrumental in building the foundation of her career in public service, where she has handled some of the most critical portfolios across various departments.
Under the Government of India, she served as the Executive Director in the Central Social Welfare Board in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and as the Advisor and Jt. Secretary in the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. She later returned to the state and worked in the department of Public Health and Financial Reforms as the Principal Secretary.
As Additional Chief Secretary she served in Skill Development, General Administration, Administrative Reforms and Home departments.
She received her first award as Principal Secretary Health from Hon’ble Union Minister Shri JP Nadda, for reduction in maternal mortality in the state. She has also been the recipient of several SKOCH Awards for Excellence.
Currently serving as the Chief Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra since July 2024, IAS Sujata Saunik has played a pivotal role in overseeing personnel and general administration. Prior to this, she held the post of Additional Chief Secretary in the Home Department from June 2023. She has also been entrusted with multiple significant assignments in the General Administration Department between 2020 and 2023, where she was responsible for administrative reforms and personnel management.
Her earlier career saw her serve as the Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, demonstrating her commitment to empowering youth and advancing economic opportunities in the state. From 2016 to 2017, IAS Sujata Saunik was also the Principal Secretary of the Finance Department in Maharashtra, showcasing her expertise in financial management.
IAS Sujata Saunik has also garnered international exposure during her foreign training stint in New York between 2017 and 2019, where she gained valuable insights in health and family welfare, which would later inform her domestic administrative responsibilities in the Public Health Department from 2013 to 2016.
She was instrumental in leading health initiatives as the Principal Secretary for Public Health in Maharashtra, managing critical public health programs, including those related to tuberculosis and organ donation, for which she received national recognition.
Her earlier roles also included serving as the District Collector in Jalgaon and Municipal Commissioner of Nashik, where she managed urban development and land revenue administration. Additionally, her international experience extended to a role in Kosovo as a Civil Affairs Officer with the Government of India, focusing on training and capacity building from 2000 to 2004.
Throughout her career, IAS Sujata Saunik has pursued continuous learning, participating in multiple training programs, including prestigious stints at Harvard University and the University of Cambridge. She has been honored with various awards for her work in public health and governance, notably receiving the Custodians of Humanity Award in 2021 and several accolades for her efforts in promoting organ donation and male sterilization programs.
With her extensive experience in governance, administrative reforms, and public health, IAS Sujata Saunik continues to serve Maharashtra with dedication, leaving a lasting impact on the state’s administrative landscape.
