A 1989 Batch IFS Officer, Vikram Misri, Takes Charge as the New Foreign Secretary. - Written by Ishita Pal (Managing News Partner) Bisjhintus News

A 1989 IFS Batch officer, named Vikram Misri, took charge as the new Foreign Secretary on Monday, succeeding Vinay Kwatra who had retired on Sunday. He previously occupied the position of Deputy NSA. Now, Pavan Kumar, a 1990 batch officer who has been Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, has taken charge as the new Deputy NSA. Let us have a look into the life of Vikram Misri. 

 

He has completed his educational life from the Hindu college of the University of Delhi. He later on went to pursue MBA at the XLRI- Xaviers Labour Relations Institute. His professional career in the Indian Foreign Service started in the year of 1989. He has carried on several Indian missions at several positions abroad between the years of 1991-1996. In 2012, he was appointed as the Private Secretary to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He continued to serve in this position during the time of Narendra Modi too. After which he was appointed as the ambassador to Spain in 2014 and Myanmar in 2016. Consequently, he was sent as the ambassador to China in the year of 2019, and was an important mediator between India and China who communicated with Chinese officials between 2020-2021 when there was a series of aggressive conflicts going on between the troops of India and China. He also held important meetings with Liu Jianchao to discuss the tense situation. 

 

Several important figures in the world of geopolitics have wished Mr. Misri a successful work life ahead while congratulating him on his new position. The External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “Congratulate Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri as he assumes his new responsibility today. Wish him a productive and successful tenure.” Further congratulations have also been sent by the Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Sewa Lamsal too. In her felicitations, she has expressed her desire to improve the multifaceted relation between India and Nepal, “Heartiest Congratulations to H E Shri Vikram Misri @Vikrammisri, newly appointed Foreign Secretary of India.”

 

In his previous role as Deputy NSA from 1 January 2022 to June 30, 2024, he worked closely with NSA Ajit Doval where he looked after the foreign policy making of the National Security Council Secretariat. 

 

In his work life, the three most significant contributions which he has made to the world of geopolitics are - his contributions in mediating the relation between India and her neighboring countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Pakistan. Thereafter comes his knowledge and expertise in navigating turbulent times in Washington DC and Beijing. Thirdly, his experience in PMO and MEA has made him an ideal candidate for this post as decided by the important triangle in this world of political-strategic-security - Narendra Modi, S Jaishankar and Ajit Doval.