A major development has taken place in the West Bengal bureaucracy with senior IAS officer Nandini Chakravarty taking charge as the first woman Chief Secretary in the state’s history. She assumed office on Wednesday, marking a historic moment in Bengal’s administrative setup.
1994 Batch IAS Officer Gets Top Post
Nandini Chakravarty, a 1994-batch IAS officer, was serving as the Additional Chief Secretary for Home and Hill Affairs until her elevation. Over her three-decade-long career, she has handled several key departments and earned a reputation as an experienced administrator.
Her appointment comes after the retirement of outgoing Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, who stepped down on Wednesday. Notably, Pant had already received a six-month service extension last year at the request of the state government. However, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) later declined another extension, making his retirement inevitable.
Manoj Pant Gets New Role
Despite his retirement, the Mamata Banerjee government chose to retain Manoj Pant’s services. It appointed him as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, ensuring his continued involvement in governance.
Appointment Gains Political Significance
Interestingly, Nandini Chakravarty’s appointment comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the West Bengal government. He alleged that the state was bypassing central norms in IAS and IPS appointments. Against this backdrop, the change at the top has sparked fresh discussions within IAS circles.
Past Controversies and Election Context
Nandini Chakravarty has remained in the spotlight earlier as well. During her tenure as Principal Secretary to Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, tensions between Raj Bhavan and Nabanna became public. Although the Governor sought her removal, the state government initially resisted before transferring her to the Tourism Department.
With the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections approaching, political observers believe the Mamata Banerjee government aims to strengthen administrative control by placing an experienced officer at the helm.
Her appointment is now being closely watched, both administratively and politically.
For more latest updates, click here.
