One of the most celebrated Indian diplomats in recent years, Syed Akbaruddin, is all set hang his boots. He will be replaced by T S Tirumurti as India’s permanent representative to the UN.

Akbaruddin and India’s high commissioner to the UK Ruchi Ghanshyam both are retiring this month and both were in the race of foreign secretary but Harshvardhan Shringala clinched the job.

Turmurti has been the secretary (Economic Relations) since early 2018 and had stints at India’s Permanent Mission in Geneva and as a director in the foreign secretary’s office and joint secretary (UN, economic and social).

Ghanshyam to be replaced in London by Gaitri Kumar, currently the envoy to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union. Santosh Jha, currently India’s envoy to Uzbekistan, is tipped to be the new ambassador in Brussels.

Former MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar is set to become envoy to Finland.

Rajiv Chander, another IFS officer who was superseded for the post of foreign secretary, and was Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Offices in Geneva is set to retire in August and is expected to be replaced by Indra Mani Pandey, who is currently the Additional Secretary (disarmament and international security affairs).