Govt extends Kwatra’s tenure as foreign secy

Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra was on Monday given a 16-month extension in service by the government and is set to continue in the post till April 2024.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) issued the notification regarding the extension for Kwatra, who was set to reach the age of retirement on December 31, 2022. Kwatra, who took over as foreign secretary on May 1, would have a fixed term of two years and the extension was in keeping with this.

The notification said the extension will continue up to April 30, 2024 or “until further orders, whichever is earlier”.

Kwatra has been playing a crucial role in the government’s response to several key issues, including the Ukraine crisis and the standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control, as well as in preparations for India’s G20 presidency in 2023.