Vinay Mohan Kwatra | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Kwatra in November 2022 | |
| 34th Foreign Secretary of India | |
| Assumed office 1 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Minister | S. Jaishankar |
| Preceded by | Harsh Vardhan Shringla[1] |
| 25th Ambassador of India to Nepal | |
| In office March 2020 – April 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Manjeev Singh Puri |
| Succeeded by | Naveen Srivastava |
| 24th Ambassador of India to France | |
| In office July 2017 – February 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Dr. Mohan Kumar |
| Succeeded by | Jawed Ashraf |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1962 (age 61–62) India |
| Spouse | Pooja |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Education | M.Sc |
| Alma mater | G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies |
| Occupation | Indian Foreign Service |
| Profession | Diplomat |
Vinay Mohan Kwatra, IFS is an Indian diplomat. He currently serves as the 34th Foreign Secretary of India, having taken over from Harsh Vardhan Shringla in May 2022.[2][3] Previously, he has served as the Ambassador of India to France and Nepal.[4]
Vinay Mohan Kwatra was born on 15 December 1962.[5] He holds a degree of B Sc Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (Hons.) from G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, and Masters in Science (M.Sc.).[6][7] Kwatra speaks French, Hindi and English. He has also obtained a diploma in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.[8]
He has previously served at Ministry of External Affairs, India and Prime Minister's Office as Joint Secretary. He has also served as Minister (Commerce) at the Embassy of India in Washington D.C. from May 2010 to July 2013. Between July 2013 and October 2015, Mr. Kwatra headed the Policy Planning & Research Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and later served as the head of the Americas Division in the Foreign Ministry where he dealt with India's relations with the United States and Canada.[9] He has served at different positions in many of India's missions abroad and in India. Kwatra holds an experience of nearly 32 years in a range of assignments.
On April 4, 2022, it was announced that Mr. Kwatra will succeed Harsh Vardhan Shringla to assume the post of the Foreign Secretary of India upon the latter's superannuation of the post on 30 April 2022.[10] On 1 May, he became the 34th Foreign Secretary of India.[11]
He is married to Pooja Kwatra. The couple has two sons.[12]