Who is India’s new foreign secretary Vikram Misri, a Kashmir-born China expert, set to replace Vinay Kwatra?

Misri had been serving as the Deputy NSA earlier. Misri will succeed Vinay Kwatra, who was given a six-months extension in March 2024 as foreign secretary but that order has been modified.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: July 1, 2024 04:54 AM IST

2 min read

Vikram Misri new foreign secretary of India.

Vikram Misri will succeed Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who was given a six-month extension in March this year. (X/@VikramMisri)

In a major bureaucratic shuffle, the government of India recently announced the appointment of new foreign secretary of India, Vikram Misri, a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, who will be taking command with effect from July 15.

Misri had been serving as the Deputy National Security Advisor earlier. Misri will succeed Vinay Kwatra, who was given a six-months extension in March 2024 as foreign secretary but that order has been modified.

In an official notification, the government announced that “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the following proposals of the Ministry of External Affairs: In partial modification of the order dated March 12, 2024, grant of extension in service of Shri Vinay Kwatra, (IFS :1988) as Foreign Secretary beyond April 30 2024 up to July 14, 2024. Curtailment of tenure of Shri Vikram Misri, IFS (1989) as Deputy National Security Advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat.”

Also Read | Deputy NSA Vikram Misri is next foreign secy, to take charge July 15

A Kashmir-born diplomat, Misri has represented three Prime Ministers namely Inder Kumar Gujral (1997), Manmohan Singh (2012) and Narendra Modi (2014) as private secretary. A 1989 batch officer, Misri was educated in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior and holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Hindu College, Delhi University.

After graduation, Misri went on to pursue MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur. He is considered an expert on the matters of Indo-China relations and has served as the ambassador of India to China in 2020 when the infamous Galwan Valley clashes took place between India and China.

Other major appointments of Misri in his tenure have been when he served as India’s ambassador to Spain in 2014 and Myanmar in 2016, while holding positions in several diplomatic missions across North America and Africa.

Reports suggest that incumbent foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra might become the next ambassador to the US.

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