Diplomatic Career & Institution Building

Secured second rank in the IAS Examination of 1974, and opted to join the Indian Foreign Service in 1975, serving over three decades across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Early postings in Kuala Lumpur, Warsaw, and Singapore.

Ambassador of India to Lebanon (1996–2001).

High Commissioner of India to Brunei Darussalam (2001–2004).

Senior Directing Staff, National Defence College, New Delhi (2005–2006).

Additional Secretary, Policy Planning Division, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi (2006–2008).

Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, 2008-13. 

Dean of the Foreign Service Institute (Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service), 2008–2013, where I designed curriculum and mentored batches of young Indian diplomats. As the Dean of the Foreign Service Institute (Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service),  I designed curriculum and mentored several batches of young Indian diplomats. I also organized regular mid-career training programmes for senior officers of the Ministry of External Affairs including officers posted abroad as Ambassadors and High Commissioners.