In a sudden and surprising development, Rajasthan’s top bureaucrat, Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant (IAS:1991:RJ), has moved on central deputation as Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi. The unexpected development has triggered widespread speculation within the state’s administrative circles.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Monday (November 10, 2025), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Sudhansh Pant (IAS:1991:RJ) as Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, succeeding Amit Yadav (IAS:1991:AGMUT), who will retire on November 30, 2025.
According to sources, several reasons are being cited for Sudhansh Pant’s sudden transfer to the central government. The first reason, they say, relates to the overlooking of officers of his choice in key transfers and postings. Sources claim that a recently deputed IAS officer was not posted as per Pant’s recommendation, despite his approval.
The second reason reportedly stems from the bypassing of the Chief Secretary’s office — with several important departmental files reaching the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) directly instead of through the Chief Secretary. Pant is said to have been upset by this breach of established administrative protocol.
The third significant factor emerged after the transfer of Alok Gupta, the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary, in June 2025 as Principal Secretary, Industries. The move is said to have disrupted coordination between the CMO and the Chief Secretary’s Office, gradually sidelining Pant from key policy and administrative matters.
Pant is the second IAS officer to leave the Chief Secretary’s position in Rajasthan to take up a central assignment. Earlier, Rajiv Mehrishi (IAS:1978:RJ) had also moved to Delhi during Vasundhara Raje’s tenure as Chief Minister in 2013.
Pant, who took over as Chief Secretary on January 1, 2024, following the retirement of Usha Sharma (IAS:1985:RJ), is scheduled to retire in February 2027. His decision to move on central deputation nearly 14 months ahead of superannuation has surprised both bureaucratic and political circles in Rajasthan.
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