New Delhi: India’s Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri will be the new Indian Foreign Secretary, succeeding Vinay Kwatra, the government announced on Friday.
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Misri, Deputy NSA in the National Security Council Secretariat, to the post of Foreign Secretary with effect from July 15,” stated the order issued by the Personnel Ministry.
The order also included the curtailment of Misri’s tenure as the Deputy NSA.
Vikram Misri, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1989 batch, has a distinguished career including serving as private secretary to three prime ministers: Narendra Modi, Manmohan Singh, and Inder Kumar Gujral. Born on November 7, 1964, in Srinagar, Misri completed his undergraduate studies in History from Hindu College, University of Delhi, and later pursued an MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur.
Misri is known for his deep domain expertise on key foreign policy issue and is regarded a strategic thinker and will be a great asset to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy team.
Misri assumed his current role in the National Security Council Secretariat in January 2022, reporting directly to NSA Ajit Doval.
In related developments, reports suggests that Jawed Ashraf, India’s ambassador to France and a former joint secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office under both Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi, is likely to succeed Misri at the National Security Council Secretariat.
Meanwhile, Vinay Kwatra, who was granted a six-month extension in March, is likely to take on the role of Indian envoy to the United States.
The transition will take place July 15, marking a significant milestone in India’s diplomatic leadership.
