Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant Repatriated, Set To Be Rajasthan Chief Secretary

According to sources, Pant is set to become the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, where the incumbent Usha Sharma’s extended tenure ends on December 31, 2023.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued the order late Saturday after the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Pant’s repatriation.

An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, Pant is a native of Uttar Pradesh and joined the IAS in 1991 in his second attempt after joining the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) in the first attempt.

Sources told The Secretariat that the Centre wanted the state government to appoint Pant as the top bureaucrat in Rajasthan where the BJP has formed government after winning the assembly polls earlier this month.

In Delhi, Pant is considered a trusted official in the Modi government who held key positions as Secretary, Ports and Shipping, and Secretary, Health and Family Welfare. He took over as the Health Secretary on July 31, 2023.

He has also served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals as well as in the Ministry of Health. During his stint as Joint Secretary, Health, he played a key role in drafting the National Medical Commission Bill, which later replaced the Medical Council of India.

Previously in Rajasthan, Pant has been a Collector and a District Magistrate in Jaisalmer, Jhunjhunu, Bhilwara, and Jaipur. Then, he served in important positions as Secretary, Mines and Petroleum Department; Commissioner, Jaipur Development Authority; and Secretary, Urban Local Bodies and Housing Department.