Gaitri Issar Kumar of the 1986 batch of Indian Foreign Services is the new Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom. She is the third woman envoy in the key post since independence after Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Ruchi Ghanashyam. Before taking over as the high commissioner, Kumar was the Indian ambassador to Belgium, the EU and Luxembourg.
Later this year, she will present credentials to the Queen in a ceremonial event at Buckingham Palace. The ceremony has been postponed due to the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic and the queen has been in Windsor Castle since March.
Industrialist Swraj Paul tweeted: “India has a great foreign service & very bright women diplomats starting from Mrs Pandit & have had the pleasure of knowing few. Said goodbye to Ruchi Ghanashyam & welcome Gaitri Kumar. Wish you a great stay, you will enjoy this assignment”.