Private Secretary to 3 PMs: Who is Vikram Misri, India's new Foreign Secretary?

private secretary to 3 pms: who is vikram misri, india's new foreign secretary?

New Delhi: Vikram Misri, a 1989-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) has been appointed as India's new Foreign Secretary. Misri's appointment was cleared by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) earlier today. Misri is currently serving as the Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA).

Misri will succeed Vinay Kwatra, the outgoing Foreign Secretary, whose tenure was extended by six months in March this year. Misri's tenure as Foreign Secretary will begin on July 15 as Kwatra's extension is slated to end on July 14.

"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 (sic)," the official order from the ACC said.

"Appointment of Shri Vikram Misri, IFS (1989), Deputy National Security Advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat to the post of Foreign Secretary w.e.f. July 15, 2024 vice Shri Vinay Kwatra," it further added.

Who is Vikram Misri, India's new Foreign Secretary?

A 1989-batch IFS officer, Misri, 59, has the unique distinction of serving as private secretary to three Prime Ministers - Inder Kumar Gujral in 1997, Manmohan Singh in 2012, and Narendra Modi in 2014. Born in Srinagar in 1964, Misri holds a bachelor's degree in history from Delhi University's Hindu College. He reportedly completed his MBA from XLRI.

Previously, he was India's ambassador to China. He also reportedly played a key role during the bilateral talks held during the 2020 Galwan clashes and the military standoff around during the period. Misri has also worked at Indian embassies in Brussels and Tunis. He was appointed as India's ambassador to Spain in 2014 and later to Myanmar in 2016.