Meet Vikram Misri: India’s New Foreign Secretary Making Waves on the Global Stage

The government has officially named Vikram Misri as the new Foreign Secretary, effective from July 15. He will be taking over from Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who received a six-month extension earlier this year. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Misri’s new role, as announced by the Personnel Ministry. This decision also includes ending Misri’s tenure as the Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) early.

Vikram Misri: Background and Experience

Career Highlights

Vikram Misri is a distinguished officer from the 1989 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Throughout his career, he has held significant positions within the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office. He served as the Ambassador to China from January 2019 to December 2021 and previously held ambassadorial roles in Spain and Myanmar.

Recent Roles

Before being appointed as the Deputy NSA on January 1, 2022, Misri was the private secretary to several Prime Ministers, including Inder Kumar Gujral, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi. His diplomatic experience spans various Indian Missions across Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America.

Personal and Early Career

Early Assignments

Misri was born on November 7, 1964, in Srinagar, India, and began his career as an undersecretary in the Office of the External Affairs Minister under I.K. Gujral’s tenure from November 1996 to April 1997. He then became the Private Secretary to Gujral from April 1997 to March 1998. Following this, Misri handled the Pakistan Desk as Under Secretary/Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs from April 1998 to August 2000.

Subsequent Positions

Misri served as Director of the External Affairs Minister’s Office under Pranab Mukherjee from November 2006 to September 2008. Later, he worked as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) from March 2012 to October 2012, and then as Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Private Secretary from October 2012 to May 2014.

Foreign Secretary

Vikram Misri’s extensive experience and diverse roles in diplomacy and national security have prepared him well for his new position as India’s Foreign Secretary. His appointment marks a significant step in India’s foreign policy and diplomatic engagements.