New Delhi - Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, was designated as India's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) and various international organizations in Geneva on Monday.

Bagchi, a seasoned 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) official, assumed his role as the MEA spokesperson in March 2020, adeptly managing various pivotal matters and developments, including the Eastern Ladakh border dispute, India's COVID-19 response, and New Delhi's leadership in the G20.

In Geneva, Bagchi will take over from Indra Mani Pandey, who is scheduled to return to New Delhi.

The Ministry of External Affairs released a concise statement, stating, "Arindam Bagchi (IFS:1995), presently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly."

It has been reported that around four senior diplomats, including Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, the joint secretary for G20 affairs, and K Nandini Singla, India's high commissioner to Mauritius, are being considered for the position of MEA spokesperson.

Before this assignment, Bagchi served as the ambassador to Croatia and held the position of deputy high commissioner to Sri Lanka. He also gained experience working in the Prime Minister's Office as a director and at India's permanent mission at the United Nations in New York.