Kolkata: Ms Nandini Chakraborty, a 1994-batch IAS officer and the former Chief Secretary of West Bengal as well as the first woman to occupy the state’s highest bureaucratic position, has been given an important assignment in the new administration headed by Suvendu Adhikari.
Sources in Nabanna stated Ms Chakraborty has been retained as Principal Coordinator for Development Works, a position functioning directly under the Chief Minister’s Office, West Bengal, and has been entrusted with additional responsibilities of strategic significance.
To Supervise Land Transfer to BSF for Border Fencing
Her first major responsibility will be to facilitate the smooth handover of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for the installation of barbed-wire fencing along the India-Bangladesh international border in West Bengal.
The assignment gains importance because the state cabinet, during its first meeting on May 11, decided to complete the land transfer process within 45 days.
Will Also Track Centrally Sponsored Projects
Besides the border fencing initiative, IAS officer Chakraborty will supervise the implementation and progress of centrally sponsored development projects across the state.
Her extensive administrative background in major departments, particularly the Home Department and later as Chief Secretary, is believed to have played a major role in her selection for this sensitive responsibility.
Removed as Chief Secretary by Election Commission
Ms Chakraborty was appointed Chief Secretary in January 2026, becoming the first woman to hold the office in West Bengal.
However, her tenure continued for only around two months. On March 15, shortly after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a retired 1988-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, declared the state Assembly election schedule, the Election Commission of India ordered her removal from the post.
Her appointment had also sparked controversy, as several senior IAS officers were bypassed during the selection process.
Who Is Nandini Chakraborty?
A 1994-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, Ms Chakraborty is widely considered one of the state’s most seasoned administrators.
Academic Background
• Graduate in Geography from Lady Brabourne College
• Master’s degree from the Centre for the Study of Regional Development at Jawaharlal Nehru University
• Awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Award in 1993
Key Administrative Roles
Throughout her notable career, she has served as:
District Magistrate of Howrah
Secretary, Industry Department
Secretary, Information and Cultural Affairs
Secretary, Tourism Department
Managing Director, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation
Principal Secretary to Governor C. V. Ananda Bose
Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department
Chief Secretary of West Bengal
Why This Assignment Is Significant
Ms Chakraborty’s new responsibilities suggest that the Suvendu Adhikari government is drawing upon her extensive experience in governance, internal security, and project execution.
Her role in coordinating BSF land transfer and overseeing central schemes places her at the core of two major priorities for the new administration: border security and effective development implementation.