Randhir Jaiswal

{{Short description|Indian diplomat}}

{{Infobox office holder

| honorific_prefix = His Excellency

| name = Randhir Jaiswal, IFS

| image = Randhir Jaiswal Indian Foreign Service Diplomat (cropped).jpg

| caption =

| office = Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs

| term_start = 3 January 2024

| term_end =

| predecessor = Arindam Bagchi

| alma_mater = (M.A.) Delhi University

}}

Randhir Jaiswal is an Indian diplomat of 1998 batch of Indian Foreign Service and is currently serving as the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India.{{Cite news |last=ANI |date=2024-01-03 |title=Randhir Jaiswal takes over as MEA spokesperson from Arindam Bagchi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/randhir-jaiswal-takes-over-as-mea-spokesperson-from-arindam-bagchi/article67701427.ece |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |title=Spokesperson's Office |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/personnel.htm}}

== Diplomatic Career ==

Randhir Jaiswal is a 1998 batch Indian Foreign Service officer. He has served in various capacities in Indian missions abroad and at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

=== Early Career ===

Hailing from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, he holds a master's degree in history from the Delhi University.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-17 |title=Randhir Jaiswal, India's consul general in New York, tipped to be next MEA spokesperson |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/randhir-jaiswal-indias-consul-general-in-new-york-tipped-to-be-next-mea-spokesperson-101697564343940.html |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-04 |title=बिहार: विदेश मंत्रालय के प्रवक्ता बने रणधीर जायसवाल, जानिए कई देशों के साथ भारत के संबंधों में इनकी भूमिका |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/bihar/randhir-jaiswal-ifs-mea-spokesperson-know-his-role-in-india-relations-with-many-countries-bihar-news-sxz |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Prabhat Khabar |language=hi}}

Jaiswal's early postings included assignments in Portugal, Cuba, South Africa, and at India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.{{Cite web |title=Profile of Consul General |url=https://www.indiainnewyork.gov.in/page/profile-of-consul-general/ |website=Consulate General of India, New York |access-date=July 6, 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Randhir Jaiswal appointed as Consul General of India in New York |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/bio5312.doc.htm |website=United Nations |access-date=July 6, 2024}}

=== Consul General of India in New York ===

In July 2020, Jaiswal was appointed as the Consul General of India in New York. During his tenure, he was actively involved in the repatriation of Indian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked to strengthen the bonds between India and the US.{{Cite news |last=Chaudhury |first=Dipanjan Roy |title=Randhir Jaiswal appointed as Consul General of India in New York |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/randhir-jaiswal-appointed-as-consul-general-of-india-in-new-york/articleshow/76958634.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=July 6, 2024}}

=== Joint Secretary to the President of India ===

Prior to his posting in New York, Jaiswal served as the Joint Secretary cum Social Secretary to the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. In this role, he led the foreign affairs office of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and advised the President on India's foreign policy.{{Cite web |title=Randhir Jaiswal appointed as Consul General of India in New York |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/32823/Randhir_Jaiswal_appointed_as_Consul_General_of_India_in_New_York |website=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |access-date=July 6, 2024}}

=== Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs ===

In January 2024, Jaiswal assumed the charge of the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. In this capacity, he holds routine weekly press conferences and moderates other press briefings and conferences concerning Indian foreign policy.{{Cite news |title=Randhir Jaiswal takes charge as Official Spokesperson of MEA |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/randhir-jaiswal-takes-charge-as-official-spokesperson-of-mea-101674050342.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=January 10, 2024 |access-date=July 6, 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Randhir Jaiswal appointed as MEA Spokesperson |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/35567/Randhir_Jaiswal_appointed_as_MEA_Spokesperson |website=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |access-date=July 6, 2024}}

=== Other Assignments ===

Jaiswal has also served as Deputy Secretary looking after India's relations with the United States of America and as Joint Secretary managing India's relations with West European countries. He has been part of India's delegation at various climate change conferences and was the lead negotiator for the G77 countries at the RIO+20 Conference held in Brazil in 2012.{{Cite web |title=Profile of Consul General |url=https://www.indiainnewyork.gov.in/page/profile-of-consul-general/ |website=Consulate General of India, New York |access-date=July 6, 2024}}