Sujata Saunik is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1987 batch of the Maharashtra cadre. She hails from Chandigarh, Haryana, and was born on 15 June 1965. At 59 years old (as of 2024), she has had a distinguished career in public administration. Sujata Saunik is married to Manoj Saunik, a retired IAS officer from the 1987 Bihar batch. She currently serves as the Chief Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, the first woman to hold this position in the state.
Read the full biography of Sujata Saunik IAS, covering her age, batch, husband, cadre, current posting, and more.
Personal Information
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sujata Saunik |
| Profession | IAS Officer |
| Batch | 1987 |
| Cadre | Maharashtra |
| Date of Birth | 15 June 1965 |
| Age | 59 Years (as of 2024) |
| Native Place | Chandigarh, Haryana |
| Home State | Haryana |
| Date of Joining | 24 August 1987 |
| Retirement Date | 30 June 2025 |
| Current Posting | Chief Secretary to Government, Maharashtra |
| First Posting | Assistant Collector, Aurangabad (1989) |
| Father | C.D. Cheema (Former IAS, deceased) |
| Brother | Gautam Cheema (IPS Officer) |
| Husband | Manoj Saunik (Retired IAS, 1987 Bihar Batch) |
Personal Life Of Sujata Saunik IAS
Sujata Saunik was born on 15 June 1965 in Chandigarh, Haryana, and hails from a family with deep roots in civil service. Her father, C.D. Cheema, was a former IAS officer, which played a significant role in shaping her career aspirations. Her brother, Gautam Cheema, is also a prominent public servant as an IPS officer.
Sujata Saunik is married to Manoj Saunik, a retired IAS officer from the 1987 Bihar batch. Manoj Saunik also served as Chief Secretary, making the couple the first in Indian administrative history to both hold the highest bureaucratic positions in their respective states. Together, they have made a significant mark on Indian public administration.
Education Qualification
Sujata Saunik’s educational background is as impressive as her career. She completed her primary education in her village and later pursued higher education at prestigious institutions. She completed her B.A. in History from Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab, in 1983, and followed it up with an M.A. in History from the same university, where she was a Gold Medalist in 1986. She also holds a P.G. degree in Political Science from Government College for Girls, Chandigarh.
UPSC Jouney
IAS Sujata Saunik’s journey to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) began at a young age. After completing her higher education, she appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and cleared it at the age of 22, securing a place in the 1987 batch. Hailing from Haryana, she was allotted the Maharashtra cadre.
Her determination and hard work paid off as she embarked on a distinguished career, holding various key administrative positions over the years. Sujata Saunik is now serving as the Chief Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious position in the state.
Major Positions Held
Sujata Saunik has held several significant positions throughout her illustrious career as an IAS officer. She began her career as Assistant Collector in Aurangabad in 1989. Over the years, she took on key roles such as Chief Officer of the Urban Development Department in Jalna, and Deputy District Election Officer in the United Nations Mission in Cambodia. She also served as Managing Director of Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM), and held critical positions like Additional Collector in Pune and District Collector in Jalgaon.
Sujata’s expertise was also recognized internationally when she served as a Civil Affairs Officer in the Government of India’s department for Kosovo. She later became Municipal Commissioner for Nashik and held advisory roles in women and child development. Her most recent and prestigious role has been as Chief Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, where she continues to contribute significantly to public administration.
Historic Role as Chief Secretary of Maharashtra
In July 2024, Sujata Saunik IAS was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the state. As Chief Secretary, she plays a crucial role in overseeing the state’s administrative machinery and working closely with the government on policy decisions and implementation.
This achievement is particularly significant because it highlights her ability to break glass ceilings and pave the way for future women in the Indian bureaucracy. Her leadership and vision are expected to bring about key changes in governance in Maharashtra.
Key Contributions and International Exposure
Sujata Saunik IAS has been recognized for her work in several critical areas. Her international experience includes her stint as a Deputy District Election Officer with the U.N. Mission in Cambodia and as a Civil Affairs Officer in Kosovo. These foreign assignments provided her with global exposure, which she brought back to her work in India, enhancing her perspective on public administration.
During her career, she has played a vital role in public health initiatives and disaster management. She has also been involved in significant policy-making decisions, particularly in Maharashtra’s urban development and revenue sectors.
Her contribution to the state’s e-Aushadhi project, a digital platform for tracking drug distribution in Maharashtra, earned her the Skoch Award for one of the top 100 projects in India.
Awards and Achievements
Sujata Saunik IAS has been recognized for her exceptional contributions to public service through various awards and accolades. In 2021, she received the prestigious Custodians of Humanity Award from the Integrated Global Healthcare Mission (IGHM) for her impactful work in healthcare. In 2016, she played a key role in promoting male participation in family planning, which earned her recognition at the National Workshop on Male Sterilization.
She also received the Skoch Award for the e-Aushadhi project and was honored for the ASHA Application, which was recognized as one of the top 100 projects in India by the Skoch Group. Additionally, her efforts in organ donation were celebrated during the 7th Indian Organ Donation Day in 2016. Sujata’s academic excellence was also recognized when she won the Gold Medal for being the topper of her M.A. program at Panjab University.
Here’s a table summarizing the awards and achievements of Sujata Saunik IAS:
| Year | Award Name | Given By |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Custodians of Humanity Award | Integrated Global Healthcare Mission (IGHM) |
| 2016 | Male Sterilization Program | National Workshop on Male Participation in Family Planning |
| 2016 | 7th Indian Organ Donation Day | National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization |
| 2016 | SKOCH Order of Merit – e-AUSHADHI | Skoch Group |
| 2016 | Skoch Award for Top 100 Project in India – ASHA Application | Skoch Group |
| N/A | M. A (Gold Medal (Topper)) | Panjab University |
Research and Fellowship
In addition to her extensive experience in government service, Sujata Saunik IAS was a Takemi Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health from 2017-2018. During her fellowship, she conducted research on state-level insurance-based healthcare schemes, particularly analyzing claim data from Maharashtra’s health insurance scheme between July 2012 and February 2018.
IAS Sujata Saunik’s career is a shining example of dedication, excellence, and leadership in public service. From her early days as an Assistant Collector in Aurangabad to becoming the first female Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, she has consistently broken barriers and set high standards in administration. Her work has impacted millions of lives, particularly in public health, disaster management, and urban development.
Her story is an inspiration for young civil servants, especially women, showing that with perseverance, dedication, and hard work, one can achieve the highest honors in public administration.