Arindam Bagchi Appointed India’s Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva

Arindam Bagchi Appointed India's Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva

VoM News Desk | October 3, 2023 | 11:36 PM IST | India, World | Follow on Google News

Arindam Bagchi Appointed India’s Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva

Arindam Bagchi Appointed India’s Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva

In a significant diplomatic development, Arindam Bagchi, the current spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is set to assume the role of India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations based in Geneva. This transition marks a crucial shift in India’s diplomatic representation, as Arindam Bagchi brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise.

Diplomatic Succession: Candidates Considered for MEA Spokesperson

As Arindam Bagchi prepares to take on his new role, the Ministry of External Affairs is actively considering potential successors to fill his position as spokesperson. Two distinguished diplomats under consideration for the role include Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, currently serving as Joint Secretary (G20), and K Nandini Singla, India’s High Commissioner to Mauritius. These deliberations are being conducted under the veil of anonymity.

Arindam Bagchi, a member of the 1995 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), assumed the role of MEA spokesperson in March 2021. His tenure has been marked by notable events, including India’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s engagement in a standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Initially, Bagchi had been slated to assume an ambassadorial post following his promotion to the rank of Additional Secretary, but his stay in his current role was extended until the conclusion of the G20 Summit.

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Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, an officer from the 1998 IFS batch, is recognized for his fluency in Mandarin and boasts four assignments in China, including two stints at the Indian embassy in Beijing and service at the consulate in Hong Kong and as Consul General in Guangzhou. At MEA headquarters, he served as Joint Secretary of the Economic Diplomacy Division and later as Joint Secretary of the Europe West Division.

K Nandini Singla, belonging to the 1997 IFS batch, has held diplomatic posts in Portugal, served as Joint Secretary (Europe West), and contributed to India’s mission to the UN in Geneva. If appointed as the spokesperson, she will make history as the first woman diplomat to hold this position since Nirupama Rao’s tenure from 2001 to 2002, who later became the Foreign Secretary.

In this diplomatic shuffle, Arindam Bagchi will succeed Indra Mani Pandey in Geneva, with the latter expected to return to New Delhi headquarters. Arindam Bagchi’s career has been marked by diverse postings, including India’s permanent mission to the UN in New York, where he handled economic and development matters, as well as key roles in the Prime Minister’s Office, focusing on UN, Americas, and Russia relations. His previous appointments also include serving as Ambassador to Croatia and Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

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