P. Harish: India's New Permanent Representative to the UN

India's Parvathaneni Harish has been appointed as India's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, succeeding Ruchira Kamboj.

Appointment and Significance

Parvathaneni Harish appointed as India's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York
Currently serving as India's ambassador to Germany
Succeeds Ruchira Kamboj, the first woman to hold the position
Appointment announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on August 16, 2024
One of the most crucial posts in multilateral diplomacy
Will be the public face of Indian diplomacy at the UN, including bodies like the General Assembly
Expected to take up the assignment shortly before Prime Minister Modi's visit to the UN General Assembly in September

Career Highlights and Experience

1990 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer
Served as Additional Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs
Led Economic Diplomacy Division, dealing with bilateral economic relations
Headed Multilateral Economic Relations Division
Indian Sous Sherpa for G20, G7, BRICS, and IBSA
Learned Arabic at the American University of Cairo, passing with distinction
Served in Indian missions in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
India's Representative to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza
Worked on secondment with UNRWA as Chief of Policy Analysis Unit in Gaza
Served in East Asia and External Publicity Divisions in MEA
Joint Secretary and Officer on Special Duty to the Vice President of India (2007-2012)
Consul General of India in Houston (2012-2016)
Ambassador to Vietnam (2016-2019)
Current role: Ambassador to Germany (since November 2021)

Educational Background and Personal Life

Gold medalist in Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University College of Engineering, Hyderabad
Studied at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
Married to Parvathaneni Nandita
Has two daughters

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