MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi appointed India's Permanent Representative to UN

Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has been chosen to serve as India’s next permanent representative to the United Nations and other international institutions in Geneva. Bagchi is an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1995 batch. In March 2021, Bagchi took over as spokesperson. The COVID-19 pandemic, the confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh, India’s hosting of the G20 Summit in September of this year, and the accelerated pace of India’s contacts with numerous partners all occurred during his eventful tenure. “Arindam Bagchi (IFS:1995), presently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva,” an MEA release said. Bagchi is anticipated to begin the duty soon, according to the statement. According to media reports, four senior diplomats are vying for the position of MEA spokesperson, including joint secretary (G20) Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur and high commissioner to Mauritius K Nandini Singla. Bagchi formerly held the positions of deputy high commissioner in Sri Lanka and ambassador to Croatia. (With agency inputs)