
MEA to appoint six envoys under new foreign secy Vijay Gokhale, more changes on the anvil
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) is making its first set of postings and transfers — including the appointment of ambassadors to six countries — under new foreign secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale, officials familiar with the development said.
Gokhale was appointed to the position late last month.
Sripriya Ranganathan, who currently heads the territorial division of Bangladesh and Myanmar, is slated to be the country’s next envoy to South Korea. Although incumbent Vikram Doraiswami – a 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer – will head back to headquarters, it is not clear which position he will hold.
Doraiswami handled two heavy-duty territorial divisions of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and the Americas (USA and Canada) during his last stint here.
Vinay Kumar, joint secretary (south) in the headquarters, will head to Afghanistan as its next envoy while 1985-batch IFS officer Narendra Chauhan becomes the new envoy for the Czech Republic.
Incumbent Czech Republic envoy Krishan Kumar will be posted as India’s next ambassador to Norway even as Ravi Thaper — an IFS officer of the 1983 batch — takes over as the envoy in Serbia.
Meanwhile, a hunt is also on for two new envoys in Tokyo and Bangkok.
Although chief of protocol Sanjay Verma’s name is under consideration in this regard, the official said the Tokyo posting may go to a more senior person. Verma is a 1990-batch IFS officer who has served as the Indian ambassador to Ethiopia and the consul general in Dubai.
The ministry recently appointed seasoned diplomat TS Tirumurti as the secretary for economic relations, a post Gokhale held before taking over the post of the foreign secretary on January 29.
A 1985-batch officer of the IFS, Tirumurti was India’s high commissioner to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) since December 2013 and was for due for posting.
Tirumurti headed the territorial division dealing with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He also served in Geneva, Washington and Jakarta.

Need to develop military into ‘future force’: PM Modi at top commanders’ meet
- The PM asked the three services to rid themselves of legacy systems and practices that are no longer relevant.

Transgender help desk set up at police station in Hyderabad

In Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district, 2 arrested for brandishing gun at wedding
- According to the police, some young men were dancing at the DJ night in a wedding ceremony, during which one of the accused pointed the pistol at the forehead of another youth.

As farmers protest completes 100 days, Cong says ‘100 days of BJP's arrogance’

Supreme Court to begin limited physical hearing on trial basis from March 15
- In January this year, Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde ruled out any reopening of courts for the present.

Nepal Police hand over body of Indian man killed in firing in Pilibhit

AIADMK, DMK yet to close deal with key allies for Tamil Nadu assembly polls

At top commanders’ meet, PM Modi calls for army to become 'future force'

Punjab reports over 1,000 daily new Covid-19 cases for second time in March

NIA files chargesheet against 3 Bodo militants for killing Assam police officer
- The chargesheet was filed on Friday before a special NIA court against the accused persons-Bishnu Narzary, Nitul Daimary and Runiluish Daimary under several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.

Over ₹25,000 million collected for Ram Temple’s construction: VHP
- Rai said that door-to-door collection of funds for the Ram Temple construction has also been stopped.

Amid surge in Covid-19 cases, these states have imposed fresh restrictions
- The central government has also rushed high-level multi-disciplinary public health teams to Maharashtra and Punjab in view of the increase in the number of daily new Covid-19 cases being reported by these states.

‘Will modify Covid travel restrictions with Kerala’: Karnataka govt to HC

News updates from HT: Covid-19 vaccination for Army veterans to begin next week

Vaccination centre for eligible MPs set up inside Parliament complex
- Nearly half or 366 out of 777 MPs are eligible for Covid-19 vaccines in the category of elderly people. 47% of MPs are above sixty years of age and meet the criteria for elderly people who can get vaccinated in the current phase.