S. Jaishankar

S. Jaishankar, born on January ninth, nineteen fifty-five, in Delhi, hails from a Tamil Hindu family. He completed his schooling in Delhi and Bengaluru before earning a bachelor's degree in chemistry from St. Stephen's College, Delhi. His academic journey continued at Jawaharlal Nehru University, where he obtained a master's degree in political science, followed by an M.Phil. and a PhD in international relations.

Joining the Indian Foreign Service in nineteen seventy-seven, Jaishankar's diplomatic career spanned over thirty-eight years, during which he held various significant positions both in India and abroad. His notable roles included serving as the ambassador to the Czech Republic from two thousand one to two thousand four, high commissioner to Singapore from two thousand seven to two thousand nine, and ambassador to China from two thousand nine to two thousand thirteen, as well as to the United States from two thousand fourteen to two thousand fifteen.

In two thousand four, he became the joint secretary (Americas) at the Ministry of External Affairs, playing a crucial role in negotiating the India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement. After his tenure as foreign secretary from two thousand fifteen to two thousand eighteen, he retired from the Indian Foreign Service. Following his retirement, he briefly served as president of global corporate affairs with the Tata Group before being sworn in as the Minister of External Affairs in May two thousand nineteen, making history as the first former foreign secretary to hold this cabinet position.

Jaishankar's contributions to Indian diplomacy have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honor, awarded to him in January two thousand nineteen. He continues to serve as the Minister of External Affairs, having been re-appointed in June two thousand twenty-four after the BJP-led coalition's victory in the general elections.