IAS Dr Nitin Kareer takes charge as Chief Secretary of Maharashtra

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has appointed Senior Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, Dr Nitin Kareer as the next chief secretary of the state on Sunday.

The 57-year-old officer, who served as the additional chief secretary (finance), replaced the outgoing Chief Secretary Manoj Saunik, a senior IAS officer from the 1987 batch.  

Dr. Kareer, a 1988 batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, officially assumed the new charges on Sunday evening.

An official order was issued by the Maharashtra government to announce its decision. It has emerged that a proposal for Saunik's extension was sent to the Department of Personnel and Training, however it failed to secure approval. As a result, Nitin Kareer emerged as the chosen successor. 

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An order issued by the Additional Chief Secretary on December 31, 2023, mentioned, "The government-appointed Shri. Manoj Saunik, IAS, in the post of Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, Mantralaya, Mumbai falling vacant due to the retirement of the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra. Nitin Kareer is the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra dated 31.12.2023."

Further, the order reads "Also, till further orders, your Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), Finance Department or the official should take additional charge." 

Kareer's term is expected to end in three months as he is due to retire on March 31st. However, rumours are suggesting that he may be granted an extension due to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Dr Nitin Kareer, a native of Maharashtra obtained his MBBS degree from BJ Medical College in Pune and a Master’s degree in finance. Then he joined the Indian Administrative Services in 1988. His diverse professional journey includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer of Pune Zilla Parishad, District Collector of Sangli and Pune, Director General of Information and Public Relations, Director General of Registration, Commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation, Divisional Commissioner of Pune, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sales Tax Commissioner, and Jamabandi Commissioner, reports Egov.

According to HT news reports, Kareer was given the Satyen Mitra Award for the best adult literacy programme in the country in 1998. He had also worked as inspector-general of stamps and registration and got awards for innovations. 

Kareer received the national e-governance first prize for full computerisation of land transactions in the registration department in 2002. The state-level first prize for e-governance initiatives in the sales tax department in 2013 when he was heading sales tax. He also received international recognition for an automated building plan approval system developed at the Pune Municipal Corporation.  

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