nandini-chakraborty-becomes-wb-s-first-woman-chief-secretary

Senior IAS officer Nandini Chakraborty on Wednesday assumed charge as the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, becoming the first woman to hold the state’s top administrative post.

 

A 1994-batch officer, Chakraborty replaced Manoj Pant following the completion of his extended tenure. She took charge at Nabanna, the state secretariat, where she was serving as Home Secretary prior to her elevation.

 

Her appointment also marks the first time under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration that a woman bureaucrat has been named Chief Secretary. Several senior officers, including Atri Bhattacharya, Prabhat Mishra and Varun Roy, were reportedly considered before the state government finalised her appointment.

 

Pant, a 1991-batch IAS officer, had assumed office as Chief Secretary in September 2024. Though due to retire in June, he was granted a six-month extension with the Centre’s approval. During his tenure, he also served as Finance Secretary and headed the Land and Land Reforms Department.

 

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Despite demitting office, Pant will continue to be associated with the state administration. According to a government notification, he has been appointed Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister, a post he will hold in the rank of Chief Secretary until further orders.

 

Chakraborty is regarded as a seasoned administrator and has held several key positions in the state. She earlier served as Principal Secretary to the Governor during a period marked by strained relations between Raj Bhavan and Nabanna, a phase that triggered political and administrative controversy.

 

She was later moved to the Tourism Department and, in December 2023, was entrusted with charge of the Home Department. Her elevation to the post of Chief Secretary marks her ascent to the highest rung of the state bureaucracy.

 

Following her appointment, the state government also announced changes in senior administrative roles. Jagadish Prasad Meena has been appointed the new Home Secretary, while Varun Roy has been given charge of the Tourism Department.

 

Sources at Nabanna said that, in addition to her responsibilities as Chief Secretary, Chakraborty will also oversee the Home and Hill Affairs Department.