Jaipur, Nov 11 (NationPress) Sudhansh Pant, the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, has been reassigned to Delhi where he will serve as the Secretary in the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Pant, a 1991-batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, was appointed Chief Secretary on January 1, 2024. Although he was expected to retire in February 2027, he has left the post nearly 13 months ahead of schedule.

The official order from the Centre confirms his appointment as Secretary in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. This change mirrors a similar situation in 2013 when then Chief Secretary Rajiv Maharishi was transferred to Delhi only nine months after his appointment by the Vasundhara Raje administration.

Sudhansh Pant began his career as SDO in Jaipur in 1993, later working as Collector of Jaisalmer and Jhunjhunu, and taking on numerous significant administrative roles. During the previous Ashok Gehlot government, he faced three transfers in three months before being named Chairman of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board.

His experience includes serving as the Director General of the Harishchandra Mathur Rajasthan State Institute of Public Administration (HCM RIPA) and as Additional Chief Secretary (Training).

Pant has had multiple assignments in Delhi, including a notable tenure as Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, before returning to Jaipur in December 2023.

He was appointed Chief Secretary by the Bhajanlal government on January 1, 2024. Notably, he is the second IAS officer to be transferred to the Central government during his Chief Secretary term.

Experts in bureaucratic affairs assert that Sudhansh Pant has effectively bridged the connection between the state and Central governments. His new role involves overseeing the implementation of Central government initiatives, a task for which the Modi administration has summoned him to Delhi. Speculation surrounds the reasons for his sudden transfer.

Firstly, Pant is regarded as a trusted officer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has a solid standing within the PMO. His administrative skills were highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic when he served as Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Secondly, he has played a crucial role in fostering collaboration and decision-making between state and Central governments, and is credited for the successful execution of various central schemes in Rajasthan.

Lastly, under his leadership, all review meetings were timely, and the Central government received prompt progress updates. His disciplined approach and consistent performance are thought to be key factors behind his recent transfer to Delhi.