From diplomacy to democracy: Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s journey to Rajya Sabha

Shringla, a 1984-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2020 to 2022.

Harsh Vardhan Shringla, one of India’s most seasoned diplomats and a key figure in shaping recent foreign policy, has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu.

The announcement was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this Sunday, who praised Shringla’s expertise and contributions to India’s global standing.

“Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla Ji has excelled as a diplomat, intellectual and strategic thinker. Over the years, he’s made key contributions to India’s foreign policy and also contributed to our G20 Presidency. Glad that he’s been nominated to the Rajya Sabha," PM Modi mentioned on X, further noting, "His unique perspectives will greatly enrich Parliamentary proceedings,” applauding his achievements and nomination to the Upper House.

Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla Ji has excelled as a diplomat, intellectual and strategic thinker. Over the years, he’s made key contributions to India’s foreign policy and also contributed to our G20 Presidency. Glad that he’s been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President of India.…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 13, 2025

Shringla, a 1984-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2020 to 2022.

During his 35-year diplomatic stint, he held a slew of high-profile assignments, including Ambassador to the U.S., High Commissioner to Bangladesh, and Ambassador to Thailand. Moreover, he also served as the Chief Coordinator for India’s G20 presidency in 2023.

It should also be mentioned here that Shringla played a key role in organising the historic “Howdy Modi” event in Texas' Houston in 2019, where Prime Minister Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump addressed a joint rally before a crowd of over 50,000 people. The event was a roaing success, marking the beginning of a renewed and stronger relationship between New Delhi and Washington.

Remarkably, his tenure in Washington saw a significant strengthening of India-U.S. defence and strategic ties.

A native of the Darjeeling hills and a prominent Gorkha face, Shringla is an alumnus of Delhi's St. Stephen’s College. A polyglot, he is fluent in French, Vietnamese, and Nepali, in addition to several Indian languages.

Over the years, Shringla has held significant roles within the Ministry of External Affairs, including Joint Secretary in charge of relations with India’s neighbours, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Maldives, and head of the United Nations Political and SAARC Divisions. He has also served in key Indian missions around the world, including France (UNESCO), the UN in New York, Vietnam, Israel, and South Africa.

Shringla’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha is anticipated to bring deeper foreign policy insight and strategic understanding to the Upper House, especially at a time when India faces complex diplomatic challenges in its neighbourhood and beyond.

Alongside Shringla, three other eminent personalities have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Murmu. These nominations come in to fill the seats left vacant following the retirement of previously nominated members.

The newly nominated members include Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, a renowned public prosecutor who led the prosecution in several high-profile criminal cases, most notably the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial involving Ajmal Kasab.

Joining him is C. Sadanandan Master, a respected educationist and social worker from Kerala, widely known for his decades-long grassroots work in the field of social upliftment.

Also nominated is Dr Meenakshi Jain, a prominent historian and academic whose work on Indian civilisation and history has earned her widespread recognition.