India appoints Periasamy Kumaran as High Commissioner to UK

Senior diplomat Periasamy Kumaran has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom , the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday.

A 1992-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, Kumaran is currently serving as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs . He is expected to assume his new responsibilities in London shortly.

Kumaran will succeed Vikram Doraiswami , who has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to China.

Over a distinguished diplomatic career spanning more than three decades, Kumaran has held several key assignments both in India and abroad. He previously served as India’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, where he played a crucial role in managing India’s strategic and developmental engagement. He also served as Ambassador to Iran, handling sensitive bilateral ties amid a complex regional geopolitical environment.

In addition, Kumaran has held senior positions within the MEA, including roles related to policy planning and multilateral diplomacy. His extensive experience in dealing with Asian affairs, particularly in his current role as Secretary (East), is expected to be valuable in strengthening India’s diplomatic engagement with the United Kingdom.

The appointment comes at a time when India-UK relations are witnessing renewed momentum across trade, technology, and strategic cooperation.