Arindam Bagchi appointed as India's new representative to UN in Geneva, succeeding Indra Mani Pandey
New Delhi, October 17: Arindam Bagchi, the current External Affairs Ministry spokesperson and Additional Secretary, has been appointed as India's next Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva. This diplomatic move comes as a significant change in Bagchi's career trajectory.
Having taken over as spokesperson in March 2021, Bagchi's tenure has been marked by significant events, including India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and India's G20 presidency. Bagchi was originally slated for an ambassadorial posting following his promotion to the rank of Additional Secretary. However, he was requested to continue as spokesperson until the conclusion of the G20 Summit.
The appointment of the next foreign ministry spokesperson is under consideration, and four diplomats are being evaluated for the role, including Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Joint Secretary (G20), and K. Nandini Singla, the High Commissioner to Mauritius.
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Kakanur, who played a pivotal role in the team led by India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant during the negotiations for the G20 Summit's leaders' declaration, is perceived to have an advantage in the selection process. An officer of the 1998 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Kakanur is fluent in Mandarin and has undertaken multiple assignments in China, including two stints at the Indian embassy in Beijing and service at the consulate in Hong Kong and as Consul General at the consulate in Guangzhou.
K. Nandini Singla, from the 1997 batch of the IFS, has held positions as Ambassador to Portugal, Joint Secretary (Europe West), and has previously served at the Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva and at the High Commission in Bangladesh.
If Nandini Singla is appointed as the spokesperson, she will be the first woman diplomat to hold this position since Nirupama Rao, who served as spokesperson from 2001 to 2002 and later became the Foreign Secretary.
In his new role in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi will succeed Indra Mani Pandey, who is expected to return to New Delhi. Bagchi brings extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy to his new role, including his previous postings at India's permanent mission to the UN in New York, where he handled economic and development matters, as well as his role as Director in the Prime Minister's Office, overseeing relations with the UN, the Americas, and Russia. He has also served as Ambassador to Croatia and Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, making him a seasoned diplomat with a wide range of experiences.
- With inputs from agencies
