Kashmir-born Vikram Misri is new foreign secretary

 New Delhi, June 28 : Vikram Misri, born on November 7, 1964, in Srinagar, has been appointed as the new Foreign Secretary of India, effective from July 15. He succeeds Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who received a six-month extension in March this year.

Misri, a 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has held several significant positions throughout his career. These include Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA), Ambassador to China, Spain, and Myanmar, and Private Secretary to multiple Prime Ministers.

The government announced Misri’s appointment today, with the Personnel Ministry issuing an official order. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his new role and the curtailment of his tenure as Deputy NSA.

During his career, Misri has served in both the External Affairs Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office. He was the Ambassador to China from January 2019 to December 2021 and held ambassadorial positions in Spain and Myanmar. Appointed as Deputy NSA on January 1, 2022, Misri also served as Private Secretary to Prime Ministers Inder Kumar Gujral, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi.

His experience includes roles in Indian Missions across Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. Misri was Under Secretary in the Office of the External Affairs Minister from November 1996 to April 1997 and Private Secretary to I.K. Gujral from April 1997 to March 1998. He handled the Pakistan Desk in the Ministry of External Affairs as Under Secretary/Deputy Secretary from April 1998 to August 2000.

Misri also served as Director in the Office of the External Affairs Minister under Pranab Mukherjee from November 2006 to September 2008. He was Joint Secretary in the PMO from March 2012 to October 2012 and Private Secretary to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh from October 2012 to May 2014.