Senior diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri was today appointed as India's new envoy to Nepal.
Puri, a 1982 batch IFS officer, is currently India's Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg.
He is expected to take up the assignment shortly, Ministry of External Affairs said.
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Puri will succeed Ranjit Rae, whose term came to an end last month.
(Reopens DEL 76)
Puri's appointment comes at a time when Nepal, one of India's key neighbours, is witnessing a political upheaval.
The Nepal government is trying to address the grievances of the Indian-origin Madhesi community over the country's new Constitution that they allege does not protect their interests.
Prior to his appointment as India's envoy to European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg, Puri was Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN in New York, having served there from 2009 to 2013.
He was a senior member of India's Security Council team during the years 2011-2012, when India served on the Security Council.
Puri was actively involved with issues of sustainable development and environment, and was a leading negotiator in India's delegation for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012.
He was a key member of India's delegation at various Climate Change negotiations, including the Major Economies Forum and the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen in December 2009.
From 2005-09, Puri headed the United Nations Division in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi dealing with economic and social issues.
In the course of his Foreign Service career, Puri had also served in Indian missions in Berlin, Bangkok (1986-89), Caracas (1989-91), Cape Town (1998-2002) and Muscat (2002-05).
Puri has a Masters degree in Management. He did his BA (Honours) in Economics from St Stephen's College, Delhi University.
