Ambassador Profile

Profile of Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran

Ambassador Kumaran joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1995.

Since April 2024, he has been Ambassador of India to the Republic of Austria and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Office in Vienna as well as Governor for India on the IAEA Board of Governors. He is also currently the Ambassador of India – designate to The Holy See and Montenegro.  From July 2020- March 2024, he served as the Ambassador of India to the Philippines, Republic of Palau and Federated States of Micronesia. He was Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Morocco from June 2019 to July 2020.

His earlier diplomatic assignments include Frankfurt (1997-1999) and Berlin (1999-2002), as Political Counsellor in Kathmandu (2007-2009) and as Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa (2009-2012).

At the Ministry of External Affairs, he was Deputy Secretary (West Europe Division) handling relations with the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain as well as the Commonwealth from 2002-2004. He was Officer on Special Duty (Press Relations) in the External Publicity Division from 2004-2007.

From 2012-16, he was Director (East Asia/China), Joint Secretary (Establishment) and Joint Secretary (Eurasia). From January 2016 - May 2019, he was on deputation to the Ministry of Defence as Joint Secretary (Planning and International Cooperation).

He holds a Bachelors Degree in English Literature from Kerala University, an MA in International Studies and Master of Philosophy (M Phil) in Diplomatic Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

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