India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar has appointed Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State, as the new point person for the Gulf.

This follows the appointment of the new ministers on 9th June after elections to the Lok Sabha.

Singh assumed charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on 11th June.

Singh will have concurrent charge of consular, passports and visa work, among other subjects. He will also deal with Overseas Indian Affairs. Both are subjects of vast interest in the Gulf because of a large Indian diaspora in the GCC countries.

India has a combined division for consular, passports and visas as well as Overseas Indian Affairs in the MEA. Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi will continue as the senior-most civil servant assisting Singh in this work. – editor@nrifocus.com