Read: All About Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri
Vikram Misri (born 7 November 1964) is a senior Indian diplomat currently serving as the 35th Foreign Secretary of India since July 2024. With over three decades of service in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Misri has been a key figure in India’s strategic and diplomatic corridors, known for his work across multiple Prime Minister’s Offices and international postings.
Early Life and Education
Born into a Kashmiri Pandit family in Srinagar, Misri completed his schooling at Burn Hall School, DAV School, and Carmel Convent School in Udhampur, before moving to Scindia School in Gwalior. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from Hindu College, University of Delhi, and later obtained an MBA from XLRI – Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur.
Professional Journey
Before joining the government, Misri worked for three years in the advertising sector, including stints at Lintas India in Mumbai and Contract Advertising in Delhi.
He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1989, beginning a career marked by pivotal roles both at home and abroad. From 1991 to 1996, he served at Indian missions in Brussels and Tunis. His first key domestic assignment came in 1997, when he was appointed Private Secretary to Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.
This was followed by several roles in the Ministry of External Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Office, and foreign missions. In 2012, Misri became Private Secretary to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a role he continued under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a rare continuity across political administrations.
Key Ambassadorial and Strategic Posts
Misri’s ambassadorial assignments include:
- Ambassador to Spain (2014)
- Ambassador to Myanmar (2016)
- Ambassador to China (2019–2021)
During his tenure in Beijing, he played a critical role in diplomacy amid the 2020–2021 China–India border tensions, holding dialogues with senior Chinese officials including Liu Jianchao to address escalating military confrontations.
Following his return, Misri served as Deputy National Security Adviser (Strategic Affairs) from January 2022 to July 2024, overseeing high-level policy coordination on national and regional security.
Languages and Personal Life
Fluent in Hindi, English, and Kashmiri, and with working knowledge of French, Misri is also a Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellow of the Aspen Institute’s India Leadership Initiative, reflecting his commitment to ethical governance.
Vikram Misri
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