The Indian government announced on Friday that Vikram Misri, the current Deputy National Security Advisor, will become the next Foreign Secretary, succeeding Vinay Kwatra. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Misri’s appointment, effective from July 15th, and also approved the curtailment of his tenure as Deputy NSA. Kwatra is anticipated to be appointed as the next Indian envoy to the United States. He was granted a six-month extension in service in March 2024.
Vikram Misri, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1989 batch, brings extensive experience to the role. He has served as private secretary to three prime ministers: Narendra Modi, Manmohan Singh, and Inder Kumar Gujral. Misri is renowned for his expertise in China, having served as the Indian Ambassador to Beijing from January 2019 to December 2021, a period encompassing the Galwan clashes. He is considered one of the leading officials in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) handling China affairs.
Experts believe Misri is well-suited for the role of Foreign Secretary, particularly given his deep understanding of China, which poses significant foreign policy challenges for India. Misri, born in Srinagar on November 7, 1964, holds a degree in History from Hindu College, University of Delhi, and an MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur. He assumed his current position in the National Security Council Secretariat in January 2022, reporting to NSA Ajit Doval.
Jawed Ashraf, the Indian ambassador to France, is reportedly likely to replace Misri as Deputy NSA. Ashraf has prior experience serving as joint secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office under both Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.
