New Delhi, March 26: Seasoned diplomat Periasamy Kumaran has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. A 1992-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, Kumaran is currently serving as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs. He will soon take charge in London, succeeding Vikram Doraiswami, who has been posted as India’s Ambassador to China.
Kumaran brings with him extensive diplomatic experience, having served as India’s Ambassador to Qatar and High Commissioner to Singapore. He began his career as Third Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Cairo in 1994 and has since held several important assignments in the MEA and abroad. An alumnus of IIT Madras, he holds a B.Tech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.
The appointment comes at a crucial juncture in India–UK relations, with both countries working to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and strategic affairs. Kumaran’s expertise in handling diverse regions, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia, is expected to strengthen India’s diplomatic outreach in London. His posting also reflects the government’s broader reshuffle of senior envoys, with Doraiswami moving to Beijing to manage one of India’s most significant bilateral relationships.
India’s diplomatic community has welcomed the appointment, noting Kumaran’s proven track record in advancing India’s interests abroad. His tenure in the UK is expected to focus on enhancing economic ties, engaging with the Indian diaspora, and reinforcing strategic collaboration between New Delhi and London.
