New Delhi: Ending weeks of speculation, the government has decided to appoint Ranjan Mathai, India's ambassador to France, as the next foreign secretary.
Mathai will succeed Nirupama Rao, who is tipped to be India's next ambassador to the US. Rao will succeed Meera Shankar in Washington, sources said.
A 1974 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, the exact details of Mathai's appointment will be announced soon. The cabinet committee on appointments met Monday to finalise Mathai's name for foreign secretary.
Hardeep Singh Puri, India's permanent representative to the UN, and Sharat Sabharwal, India's high commissioner to Pakistan, were also seen to be claimants for the post of foreign secretary.
IANS
First Published: Monday, June 27, 2011, 15:14