Ranjan Mathai takes charge as Indias foreign secretary

Mathai has succeeds Nirupama Rao, who has been named Indias ambassador to the US. Mathai will hold office for a two-year term. Earlier, Ranjan Mathai was serving as Indias ambassador to France, while Rakesh Sood, Indias ambassador to Nepal, will succeed Mathai as New Delhis envoy in Paris. A 1974 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Mathai has held a string of high-profile diplomatic positions. He was Indias ambassador to Israel February 1998 to June 2001, and to Qatar August 2001 to July 2005. A veteran diplomat, he was joint secretary dealing with Indias relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the Maldives from January 1995 to February 1998. He has also served in the Indian embassies in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels.Mathai, who completed his post-graduate studies in political science at the University of Poona, was Indias deputy high commissioner to Great Britain in London from August 2005 to January 2007.