Arindam Bagchi was due to take up an ambassadorial advertisement before following his creation but was asked to stay on as spokesman in view of the G20 Summit.
External affairs ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi was on Monday appointed as India’s next permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva.
MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi has been appointed as India’s next permanent representative to the UN in Geneva( ANI).
Background & Career of Arindam Bagchi
image source – wion
Bagchi is presently an additional secretary in the external affairs ministry. He’s anticipated to take up the assignment shortly, according to a sanctioned statement.First reported on October 3 that Bagchi would become the envoy to the UN in Geneva.
Potential Successors
People familiar with the matter said on condition of obscurity that four diplomats are being considered to replace Bagchi as the foreign ministry’s spokesperson, including Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, common clerk (G20), and K Nandini Singla, high commissioner to Mauritius.
Transition from Spokesperson to UN representative
Bagchi, from the 1995 batch of the IFS, took over as spokesperson in March 2021 and had an important stint that gauged the country’s response to the Covid- 19 pandemic, India’s impasse with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the country’s G20 administration.
He was due to take up an ambassadorial posting following his creation to the rank of fresh clerk some time ago but was asked to stay on till the holding of the G20 Summit.
Kakanur was a crucial part of the team led by India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant that was involved in accommodations to finalise the agreement leaders ’ affirmation at the G20 Summit last month. He’s considered to have the edge in the process to appoint the coming spokesman, the people said.
An officer of the 1998 batch of the IFS, Kakanur is a fluent Mandarin speaker who has done four separate stints in China. Besides two stints in the embassy in Beijing during 2000-03 and 2009-12, he also served at the consulate in Hong Kong during 2003-06, and as consul general in the consulate at Guangzhou during 2013- 15.
Nandini Singla – Potential Groundbreak Appointment
Nandini Singla, an IFS Officer, of the1997 batch, has served as the ambassador to Portugal during 2016-20, and as joint secretary ( Europe West) during 2015-16. She also did a stint at the endless charge to the UN in Geneva during 2009-11 and served at the high commission in Bangladesh during 2005-08.
However, she’ll be the first woman diplomat to hold the post after Nirupama Rao, who held the position during 2001- 02 and went on to become the foreign secretary, if she is appointed the spokesperson.
In Geneva, Bagchi will replace Indra Mani Pandey, who is anticipated to return to the headquarters in New Delhi, the people said.
Bagchi’s Extensive Diplomatic Experience
Bagchi has considerable experience in multinational diplomacy, having served at India’s permanent mission to the UN in New York looking after profitable and development issues, and as director in the Prime Minister’s Office, handling relations with the UN, the Americas and Russia.
Bagchi has also served as minister to Croatia and deputy high commissioner to Sri Lanka.
