Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (India)

Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs
since 3 January 2024
External Publicity Division (XP)
TypeJoint Secretary
AbbreviationJS-XP and Spokesperson
SeatSouth Block, New Delhi
AppointerMinistry of External Affairs
WebsiteOfficial website

The Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs is an Indian government official whose primary responsibility is to serve as the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs and to deal with other media affairs relating to Indian foreign policy. The spokesperson is usually a joint-secretary rank officer, and formally heads the External Publicity division in the Ministry.[1][2][3]

Currently, Randhir Jaiswal, an officer of the 1998 batch of Indian Foreign Service is the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.[1]

Roles and functions

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The Official Spokesperson and Joint Secretary (External Publicity) is the interface of the Ministry of External Affairs with the media. Its role includes:

  • Releasing statements and giving speeches on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs or of the Government of India informing its official position.
  • Issuing Press Releases.
  • Responding to Media queries.
  • Media briefings.

List of Official Spokespersons

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# Name Photo From To Ref(s)
33 Randhir Jaiswal 3 January 2024 Incumbent [4]
32 Arindam Bagchi 21 March 2021 2 January 2024 [5]
31 Anurag Srivastava 7 April 2020 20 March 2021 [6]
30 Raveesh Kumar 21 July 2017 6 April 2020 [7]
29 Gopal Baglay 1 March

2017

20 July 2017 [7]
28 Vikas Swarup 18 April 2015 28 February 2017 [8]
27 Syed Akbaruddin 7 December 2011 18 April 2015[8]
26 Vishnu Prakash 2008 2011
25 Navtej Sarna 2002 2008 [9]
24 Nirupama Rao 2001 2002 [10]
23 Raminder Jassal 1999 2001
22 Krishan Chander Singh 1998 1999
21 Pavan Varma 1997 1998
20 Talmiz Ahmad 1997 1997
19 1994 1997
18 1992 1994
17 1988 1992
16 1985 1988
15 1983 1985
14 1982 1983
13 1979 1982
12 1976 1979
11 A. N. D. Haksar 1973 1976
10 Shilendra Kumar Singh 1969 1973
9 A. B. Bhadkar 1968 1969
8 Rikhi Jaipal 1967 1968
7 I. J. Bhadur 1964 1967
6 M. A. Rahman 1962 1964
5 P. N. Menon 1959 1962
4 Ramchundur Goburdhun 1958 1959
3 P. N. Haksar 1955 1958
2 R Ramamirtham 1954 1955
1 V R Bhatt 1949 1954

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "MEA | Spokesperson's Office : Personnel". mea.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  2. ^ "MEA | About MEA : Organization Structure : Divisions". mea.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  3. ^ "Arindam Bagchi may replace Anurag Srivastava as MEA spokesperson". Deccan Herald. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  4. ^ "MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi passes on baton to Randhir Jaiswal". ANI. ANI. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Arindam Bagchi to be new spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs". Business Standard India. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Who is Anurag Srivastava? All you need to know about India's new MEA spokesperson". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  7. ^ a b "IFS officer Raveesh Kumar to replace Gopal Baglay as MEA spokesperson". Zee News. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  8. ^ a b "Vikas Swarup takes over as Spokesperson in MEA". IndianMandarins. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  9. ^ Scroll Staff. "Former MEA spokesperson Navtej Sarna appointed Indian ambassador to the United States". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  10. ^ "Bio-profile of Ambassador Nirupama Rao". www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
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