New Delhi : Some key changes are in the offing in the External Affairs Ministry including appointment of author and 1980 batch IFS officer Navtej Sarna as India’s ambassador to the United States and a 2-year extension to foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (62) completing his 2-year tenure on January 28.
Sarna, who had joined as India’s High Commissioner in the UK only in January, was earlier Secretary (West) and an ambassador to Israel, though he became a popular face during his 6-year long stint as the External Affairs Ministry spokesman from October 2002 to September 2008. The Jalandhar-born Sarna is a law and commerce graduate from Delhi University and comes from the writer parents.
He replaces Arun Singh, a 1979-batch IFS officer, who had taken over from Jaishankar on the latter brought to Delhi to replace Sujata Singh, whose term was cut down by the Modi government. Jaishankar enjoys good rapport with Prime Minister Modi and hence he appears all set to get the extension. Present External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup, a 1986-batch IFS officer and an author best known for his novel Q&A adapted in film Slumdog Millionaire, is tipped to move out in December as India’s next envoy in Austria. Person leading the race for the new spokesman is 1996-batch IFS officer Sandip Chakravorty, presently India’s envoy to Peru. Other names being considered are that of Shambhu Kumaran, presently on deputation to Defence Ministry, and Dineh Bhatia, the consul general of India in Toronto.
