Former Indian ambassador to Qatar Sanjiv Arora has been appointed as secretary — Consular, Passport, Visa & Overseas Indian Affairs, with effect from February 1.
He will take charge from Dnyaneshwar Mulay, according to a notification issued recently by the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, India.
Arora, a 1984-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, is currently India's ambassador to Lebanon.
The announcement on his new role comes following approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
Arora served as the Indian envoy to Qatar from August 2012 to October 2016.
His Highness the Deputy Amir, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, had presented Arora with the Sash of Merit in recognition of his role in enhancing relations between India and Qatar.
Before that, he served as consul-general in Houston, Texas (US), from November 2008 to July 2012, according to information available on the website, www.indianbureaucracy.com.
His first posting was in Egypt (1985-88), where he learnt Arabic, and has since served in various countries, including Germany, Sri Lanka and the Czech Republic.
He was head of the United Nations (Political division) at the Ministry of External Affairs from 2005 to 2008.
He was also involved in the Indian government's initiative that led to the United Nations General Assembly adopting a resolution to observe Mahatma Gandhi's birthday (October 2) as the International Day of Non-Violence.
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