ACC appointed 1974-batch IFS officer Ranjan Mathai as India’s Foreign Secretary

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 27 June 2011 approved the appointment of 1974-batch IFS officer Ranjan Mathai, presently Ambassador in Paris, as Foreign Secretary. He will succeed Nirupama Rao, IFS, on her retirement on 31 July 2011 to office for a term of two years.

After completing post-graduate studies in Political Science at the University of Poona, Mathai joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974 and has served in Indian embassies in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels.

As Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi from January 1995 to February 1998, he headed the division dealing with India's relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives. Mathai played a critical role in the Indo-Bangla Ganges Water Sharing accord during Sheikh Hasina's first stint as the PM. This water accord is India's only successful such pact in South Asia.

He also served as Indian Ambassador to Israel from February 1998 to June 2001 and was the Indian Ambassador in Qatar from August 2001 to July 2005.

He held the post of Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK in London from August 2005 to January 2007.

His stint in Paris saw the signing of the Indo-French Envoy to France as well as the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Paris to be the chief guest at the French National Day celebrations in July 2009.

His major challenges would include the uncertainty in relations with Pakistan and the unpredictable nature of Sino-Indian ties, besides the evolving situation in Afghanistan and the political impasse in Nepal.