Took over as National Security advisor with a rank of MoS in the Union Government on May 27, 2004.

Date of Birth : January 8, 1936

Education : Educated in Central India, Rajasthan & Delhi. Holds BA Honors Degree in Philosophy, Economics and Political Science. A Master’s Degree in International Law and International Relations from Delhi University. Pursued studies for Doctoral Degree at the School of International Studies which is now part of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

• Joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1958. Served in Vienna. Was India’s first ambassador to Bangladesh after its liberation. Served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassies in Tokyo and Washington. Was Ambassador in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Was Chief administrator of Indian aid in Bhutan.

• Was in charge of the Political Desks of Pakistan, China and the United Nations. Was Joint Secretary in-charge of Cultural Affairs and External Publicity. Was spokesman on foreign policy for the foreign office and PMO between 1979 and 1982. Was appointed Foreign secretary of India and Chief of the Foreign service in 1991. Retired from Government service in 1994.

• Was India’s Alternate Permanent representative and member of the Governing Bodies of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Industrial Development Organisation. Has represented India at the ILO, the international Maritime Organisation the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the UNESCO. Has been member of the Government of India’s experts Committees on Atomic Energy the UNCTAD, the UNESCO – was Director on the governing Board of the Colombo Plan.

• Political Columnist, writing in Indian and foreign newspapers and magazines, including newspapers in Hindi, Malayalam and Marathi. Has contributed to academic journals dealing with foreign affairs, defence and security matters.

• Has lectured after retirement at the Delhi University, the JNU, the National Academy of Administration, the National Defence College, the College of combat, the colleges of Naval Warfare and Air Warfare, the National Institute of Defence Management, Administrative Staff College at Hyderabad, and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Sardar Patel Police Academy, Secundrabad (all Indian/Govt institutions).

• Has been visiting Professor to the Universities of Hull, Manchester Oxford, Heidalburg, La Trobe, Melbourne, the University of Perth, the School of Oriental and African Studies, London and University of Western Cape, South Africa.

• Director Adviser on Foreign corporate Relations to a number of multinational/national companies and investment banks.

• Was the Chairman and Convenor of International Affairs Group of the India International Centre.

• Was the Executive Board of the General Council of the Sangeet Natak Academy.

• Member of the Advisory Board of the School of the International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Member of the Executive Council and Executive Board of the United Services Institution of India. Member of the Board of Management of Research projects of the United Services Institution of India Defence Ministry.

• He is on the Advisory Board of the Department of Politics of the University of Hull. He was a Constant to the Defence Planning Staff and the Joint Intelligence Committee of the government of India. He is a resource person and consultant to the institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Stockholm, Sweden. He is Professor, Emeritus at the Foreign Service Institute, External Affairs Ministry, Govt of India.

• He is a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi.

1. Admiral Katari-memorial Lecture of the Indian Navy – 1995.
2. Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Lecture of the Indian Army – 1997.
3. 50^th Anniversary Comememoraline address – Defence services Staff College Wellington, Tamil Nadu – 1999.