Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) Ending weeks of speculation, the government Monday appointed Ranjan Mathai, India’s ambassador to France, as the next foreign secretary. He will succeed Nirupama Rao.

Mathai will hold office for a two-year term and will assume office on Aug 1, 2011, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters here.

Mathai will succeed Rao, who is tipped to be India’s next ambassador to the US. Rao will succeed Meera Shankar in Washington, sources said.

The cabinet committee on appointments met Monday to finalise Mathai’s name for foreign secretary.

Rao’s appointment as foreign secretary is set to set the stage for finalisation of crucial diplomatic postings in key capitals, including Paris and London.

A 1974 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Mathai has held diplomatic positions, including serving as India’s ambassador to Israel (February 1998-June 2001) and Qatar (August 2001 to July 2005).

A veteran diplomat, he was joint secretary dealing with India’s relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives from January 1995 to February 1998.

He has also served in the Indian embassies in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels.

Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s permanent representative to the UN, and Sharat Sabharwal, India’s high commissioner to Pakistan, were also seen to be claimants for the post of foreign secretary.

Mathai, who completed his post graduate studies in political science at the University of Poona, held the post of deputy high commissioner of India to the UK in London from August 2005 to January 2007.