• Source:JND
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Indian diplomat Randhir Jaiswal on Wednesday took charge as the new Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson. He replaced Arindam Bagchi in the role as the latter proceeded as the new Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Taking to social media, Bagchi said, "The baton passes on! Shri Randhir Jaiswal assumes charge as the Official Spokesperson of @MEAIndia as Shri Arindam Bagchi proceeds on overseas assignment."

Earlier in October, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was appointed India's next Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva.

Bagchi, a 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. Bagchi took over as spokesperson in March 2021. His tenure was eventful as it spanned the COVID-19 pandemic, the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, India hosting the G20 Summit in September this year and the increased pace of India's engagements with various partners.

Who Is Randhir Jaiswal?

The new MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal an officer of the 1998 batch of the Indian Foreign Service, will succeed the current spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi.

He previously served as consul general in New York in July 2020 and was praised by the diaspora members for being actively involved in the repatriation of Indian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and how the diplomat exports and the mission adjusted to the unprecedented global health crisis. Jaiswal has served in Portugal, Cuba, South Africa and at India's permanent mission to the UN in New York.

He was also appointed to serve the President as the joint secretary for India's foreign policy. Jaiswal has also been part of India’s delegation at various climate change conferences and was the lead negotiator for the G77 countries at the RIO Conference held in Brazil in 2012. He has a Master's degree in history from Delhi University