Sudhansh Pant gets the reins of nation’s ‘Health’!

Jaipur: Senior IAS Sudhansh Pant has been ‘awarded’ by the Central government for his performance, merit and experience and has been appointed as Secretary of the Health Department, the department in which he has been at the helm of for six years!

When in September 2014, 1991 batch IAS Sudhansh Pant went for central deputation, he was first posted as Joint Secretary (JS) in Pharmaceuticals department and then as JS in health Department. What is interesting here is the fact that when after the completion of his deputation period, pant returned to Jaipur in January 2020, he was called back in March 2020 as the entire nation was under the Covid wave and the Health Ministry had several major responsibilities. In such a situation, the central government remembered Sudhansh Pant’s services and experience in the department. Although he was called for a period of two months on temporary basis, but he was not released for nine months!

It was a moment of pride for the Rajasthan cadre when during a ‘national calamity,’ a bureaucrat from the State cadre was of immense use in the Centre. In fact, the Centre wanted to promote Pant to the post of Additional Secretary and keep him there, but the Rajasthan government called him back in January 2021. But in October 2022, Pant returned to New Delhi and he was appointed as Secretary, Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Now after eight months, he has been appointed as Secretary of Health Department regarding which Pant has immense experience. And thus, it is believed that he will handle the reins of the Department with immense finesse!

Notably, Pant will take charge of the post of Secretary in Ministry of Health after July 31. At present, IAS Rajesh Bhushan of Bihar cadre is serving on this post and Pant will take charge after his retirement on July 31. Currently Pant is posted as OSD in Central Health Department.