India’s current Consul General in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, is poised to become the next spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, according to sources familiar with the matter. Jaiswal, a seasoned diplomat of the 1998 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), will assume this role following the appointment of Arindam Bagchi as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
Throughout his diplomatic career spanning more than two decades, Jaiswal has served in various capacities, including assignments in Portugal, Cuba, South Africa, and at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.
He has also held roles within the External Affairs Ministry, serving as Deputy Secretary responsible for relations with the United States and as Joint Secretary overseeing ties with Western European countries.
In 2017, he was deputed to serve the President as Joint Secretary responsible for international relations. Jaiswal took on his current position as Consul General in New York in July 2020.
Moreover, he has represented India at climate change conferences and holds a master’s degree in history from Delhi University.
Arindam Bagchi is expected to continue as the spokesperson for some time, with the transition anticipated to take place towards the end of the year.