gfiles magazine

June 12, 2017

Shake up or shake down


The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Foreign Service have long been seen as silos, sometimes criticised at home as aloof and elitist. Yet peers view the IFS as among the best diplomatic services. Though MEA has a very cordial and respectful atmosphere among the officers but the manner in which new Ambassadors and High Commissioners are being appointed has created some heart burn among senior IFS officers. It appears S Jaishankar, Secretary Ministry of External Affairs, is taking every step swiftly. Some of these new appointments are: Ms. Vani Sarraju Rao (IFS: 1994), currently Joint Secretary has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Finland. Jaideep Mazumdar (IFS: 1989), currently Joint Secretary has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of the Philippines. The appointment of Vinay Mohan Kwatra (IFS: 1988), as the next Ambassador of India to France has surprised many. Ms. Pooja Kapur (IFS: 1996), currently Joint Secretary has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Bulgaria. President Pranab Mukherjee’s Press Secretary Venu Rajamony, (IFS: 1986), has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Mukta Dutta Tomar (IFS: 1984), currently Additional Secretary has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Germany. Nepal has always been very important for India. An Indian Ambassador plays a vital role in bilateral relations. A very senior officer Manjeev Singh Puri (IFS: 1982), currently Ambassador of India to Belgium has been appointed as the Ambassador of India to Nepal. Subir Dutta, (IFS: 2003), currently Ambassador, Embassy of India, Madagascar, has been appointed as Ambassador to the Union of Comoros with residence in Antananarivo. In MEA corridors, officers whisper that the new ambassadors, high commissioners are part of the restructuring of young and experienced officers by Jaishankar.

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