K.V. Rajan

K.V. Rajan is a former Member of the Indian Foreign Service, retired as Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. During nearly forty years of diplomatic service, he was entrusted with diverse responsibilities which covered political, economic, cultural, academic, media-related and multilateral work and developed intimate knowledge about most countries and major international institutions in the world. His diplomatic service outside India included the following (in the capacity of Head of Mission) France, USA, Zambia (with concurrent accreditation to Botswana, Angola, Namibia and South Africa and (then) Rhodesia, Algeria, UK and Nepal. As India’s longest serving Ambassador to Nepal to date (1995 to 2000), and subsequently in various other capacities, he has unmatched personal experience of Nepal and understanding of various aspects of India-Nepal Relations.

Rajan’s additional responsibilities at different levels of seniority in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India included Adviser to the External Affairs Minister; Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the African Union; Co-Chair, Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline Project; Special Adviser to the Foreign Secretary of India; Head of Coordination Division, Ministry of External Affairs; Head of Europe Division, Ministry of External Affairs.

Rajan is a frequent speaker in India and abroad on international issues. He is the author of several articles on Foreign Policy issues for the leading publications, and Editor of an anthology of essays by distinguished senior former Ambassadors, The Ambassadors Club (HarperCollins).