Bagchi was as India’s next Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international institutions in Geneva.
Arindam Bagchi, the official spokeswoman for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), handed over the baton to Randhir Jaiswal, who took over as official MEA spokesperson on Wednesday. Mr. Bagchi stated on X in a social media post, “The baton passes on! As Shri Arindam Bagchi departs for a foreign assignment, Shri Randhir Jaiswal takes over as the Official Spokesperson of @MEAIndia.”
Mr. Bagchi stated to the journalists during the weekly press briefing on December 29, “This is the last presser, weekly presser of the Ministry of External Affairs for this year.” So, may I wish you a very happy new year and best wishes for 2024? This is also my final weekly press conference as the spokesperson. So, thank you for being here with us. And from now on, we will have the honour of having Shri Randhir Jaiswal in this post.” MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was named India’s next Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international institutions in Geneva in October 2023.
Mr. Bagchi is an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and a 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. In March 2021, Mr. Bagchi took over as spokesperson. His term was busy, including the COVID-19 epidemic, the dispute with China in eastern Ladakh, India hosting the G20 Summit this September, and India’s accelerated pace of engagement with many partners.
A new spokesperson has been appointed.
Randhir Jaiswal, the new MEA spokesperson, previously served as consul general in New York in July 2020 and was praised by diaspora members for being actively involved in the repatriation of Indian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how diplomat exports and the mission adjusted to the unprecedented global health crisis.
Mr. Jaiswal, a member of the Indian Foreign Service’s 1998 batch, will succeed the current spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi. Mr. Jaiswal has previously worked in Portugal, Cuba, South Africa, and India’s permanent representation to the United Nations in New York.
