Sujata Saunik Appointed Maharashtra's First Woman Chief Secretary

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Sujata Saunik, a 1987 batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been appointed as the first woman Chief Secretary (CS) of Maharashtra, effective from June 30, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• The appointment of Sujata Saunik comes after the retirement of Nitin Kareer, who had served as the CS of Maharashtra since January 2024.

• Saunik will serve a one-year term, retiring in June 2025.

• She becomes the 45th CS of Maharashtra since the state's establishment in 1960.

• Before this role, she held positions including Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department and ACS in the General Administration Department.

• She also served as ACS of the Skill Development, Employment, and Entrepreneurship Department (SDEED), and as Principal Secretary of Public Health and Financial Reform.

About Maharashtra

• It is a state located in the western part of India and covers a significant part of the Deccan Plateau.

• Chief Minister - Eknath Shinde

• Governor - Ramesh Bais

• Official Animal - Indian giant squirrel

• Official Bird - Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

• Official Dance - Lavani

Additional Information:-

• Maharashtra becomes the first state in the country to approve Good Governance Regulations

• Ramesh Bais, Governor of Maharashtra, launched a book titled 'Gateways to the Sea: Historic Ports and Docks of Mumbai Region' at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.

• On June 28, 2024, Maharashtra Government Launches Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.