“Centre Approves IAS Officer Sujata Karthikeyan’s Retirement”

Odisha IAS Officer Sujata Karthikeyan Retires Voluntarily with Centre’s Approval.

Bhubaneswar, India | March 30, 2025

The central government has approved the voluntary retirement request of Sujata R. Karthikeyan, a 2000-batch IAS officer from the Odisha cadre. She has held key administrative roles in Odisha and is known for her contributions to women’s empowerment and education.

IAS officer Sujata Karthikeyan Contributions in Odisha Administration

Karthikeyan served as the Collector of Sundargarh district, a Maoist-affected region, where she initiated a cycle scheme for high school students under the motto “Mobility is Empowerment.“This program helped improve school attendance and accessibility. In June 2021, the government appointed her as Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Mission Shakti Department, which oversees women’s self-help groups (SHGs). She introduced initiatives like the scooter scheme for women and organized international exposure trips for SHG members. She also played a key role in transforming SHGs into small and medium enterprises.

Additional Responsibilities and Leave Dispute

In November 2023, the government assigned her additional responsibilities as Secretary of the Odia Language, Literature, and Culture Department to oversee the World Odia Language Conference in February 2024. In May 2024, Karthikeyan went on a six-month childcare leave to support her daughter’s education. When she sought an extension in November, the Odisha government denied her request. As a result, she had to resume duty as instructed.

Retirement Approval and Future Plans

She rejoined service; however, she later applied for voluntary retirement, and the government eventually approved her request in March 2025.Karthikeyan, who is married to former IAS officer and politician V.K. Pandian, has not disclosed her future plans. Pandian, has not disclosed her future plans. However, speculation suggests she may continue working in social welfare or politics.

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