Ex-Foreign Secretary Vinay Kawatra appointed India’s Ambassador to USA

The Ministry of External Affairs has announced the appointment of former foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra as India’s next ambassador to the United States of America. The announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)on 19 July 2024. The MEA  also said that he will take up his assignment shortly.

The Ambassadorial post has been lying vacant since January 2024 after the retirement of Taranjit Singh Sandhu. 

Former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Vinay Mohan Kawatra retired as the 34th Foreign Secretary of India in July. He was replaced by Vikram Misri as the 35th Foreign Secretary of India.

The Ambassadorial post to the United States of America is considered to be one of the most prestigious and challenging jobs, along with the posting to Russia, the United Kingdom, China and Pakistan.

What are Ambassador /High Commissioners?

Ambassadors or High Commissioners are a country's highest-ranking diplomats who represent their country in a particular country or international organisation.

The highest-ranking diplomat appointed by one Commonwealth member country to another Commonwealth country is called High Commissioner. 

The highest-ranking diplomat appointed to a non-Commonwealth country is called an  Ambassador.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary group of countries which were formerly part of the British Empire but are now independent. At present, 56 countries are members of the Commonwealth.

How is an Ambassador or the High Commissioner Appointed 

• Under the Indian constitution, the President has the power to appoint India’s Ambassador or the High Commissioner. However, the President has to appoint only those persons as Ambassadors/High Commissioners who have been recommended by the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister.
• Approval from the country where the person is to be appointed as the  Ambassador or the High Commissioner is also required. If the country refuses to accept the recommended person's name, then that person cannot take up an assignment as Ambassador or the High Commissioner in that country.
• This means that if the US government refuses to accept Vinay Kwatara as India’s ambassador, the Indian government will have to replace him.
•  Normally, before announcing the name of the Ambassador or High Commissioner, the Indian government consults the foreign country where the person is to work.

Some important Indian Ambassador /High Commissioner to Remember

• Ambassador to Russia -Vinay Kumar 
• Ambassador to China-Pradeep Kumar Rawat 
• Ambassador to France - Jawed Ashraf 
• Ambassador to Germany -Parvathaneni Harish 
• Permanent Representative to the United Nations- Arindam Bagchi 
• High Commissioner to the United Kingdom: Vikram Doraiswami
• High Commissioner to Pakistan: Vacant since 2020
• High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha 
• High Commissioner to Bangladesh: Pranay Verma