Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who assumed charge on Wednesday, said here Foreign Service is a public service and its every effort should be dedicated to contributing towards the nation in the form of security and prosperity through external engagements.
Shringla, who was India’s envoy to the US before assuming the new responsibility, will get a fixed two-year term as Foreign Secretary. He succeeded Vijay Gokhale following his retirement.
Shringla is taking charge at a time of the high-profile post at a time when India is facing a plethora of foreign policy challenges including ramping up of diplomatic outreach in the wake of criticism by some countries and global institutions of the new Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA). India is also facing an increasingly assertive Trump administration and China’s attempt to expand its military and economic influence in the region.
Speaking to reporters ahead of taking the charge, Shringla, a 1984-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), said “I am as committed to the ministry’s role in nation-building as I was almost 36 years ago when I entered these portals as a young professional. I look forward to functioning under the guidance of the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the External Affairs Minister (S Jaishankar), our political leadership and with the support and cooperation of my colleagues both within the ministry and outside,” the 57-year-old diplomat said.
The Government did not follow the seniority principle in appointing Shringla to the top post. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Ruchi Ghanshyam, a 1982-batch IFS officer, was also in contention for the post.
Shringla had played an important role in successful hosting of the “Howdy Modi” event in Houston in September where US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi jointly addressed the Indian Diaspora.
“I am conscious of the fact that I am stepping into the shoes of my illustrious stalwarts and seniors who have upheld the highest standards of professionalism and integrity to their work. In this context my two immediate predecessors come to mind — Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale who set impeccably high standards, and Dr Jaishankar who we know is one of the leading authorities on foreign policy in India and anywhere in the world,” Shringla said.