Shyam Saran

Shyam Saran (born 4 September 1946) is an Indian career diplomat. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1970 and rose to become the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India. Prior to his appointment as the Foreign Secretary he served as India's ambassador to Myanmar, Indonesia and Nepal and as High Commissioner to Mauritius. Upon completion of his tenure as the Foreign Secretary he was appointed Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Indo-US civil nuclear issues and later as Special Envoy and Chief Negotiator on Climate Change.

Currently Ambassador Saran is the Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board under the National Security Council. He also serves as the Chairman, Research and Information System for Developing Countries — an autonomous think tank specializing in studies on economic and trade related issues.^[1] He regularly comments and speaks on politics and foreign policy issues and is a contributor to multiple magazines and newspapers.

In 2011, in recognition of his contribution to the civil service he was awarded the Padma Bhushan - third highest civilian honor in India.^[2]

Career

He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1970 and subsequently served in different capacities in the Indian diplomatic missions in several capitals of the world including Beijing, Tokyo and Geneva. Prior to his appointment as the Foreign Secretary, he was India’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Indonesia and Nepal and High Commissioner to Mauritius. In the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, he headed the Economic Division and the Multilateral Economic Division and also headed the East Asia Division which handles relations with China and Japan. As a Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office in 1991/92, he advised the Prime Minister on foreign policy, nuclear and defense related issues. As foreign secretary and later as the special envoy on nuclear issues, he made a significant contribution to the Indo-US nuclear deal.^[3]

Foreign Secretary

China

As foreign secretary, he visited China in March 2005 for the 15th meeting of the India-China Joint Working Group on the boundary issue.

Stance on nuclear weapons

In April 2006, he said that India has no obligation to define its minimum credible nuclear-deterrent after United States Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher suggested that India "further define" its minimum deterrent. During his tenure, Saran helped negotiate the U.S.–India Civil Nuclear Agreement. In December 2012, he wrote a research article in which, he pointed out that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal expansion has been extended, this time, not to deter India but to deter possible American attack on Pakistan.^[4]

Later Roles

Even though the Prime Minister's Office was willing to extend his tenure as foreign secretary when he was set to retire in September 2006, Mr. Saran did retire. He was an advisor to the Prime Minister specializing in nuclear issues, as well as the Indian envoy on climate change. He quit office on 19 February 2010. He is currently the Chairman of the Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries (RIS) thinktank and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi. He is also on the Advisory Board of World Development Forum, an upcoming forum that aims to bring together citizens' groups, development organizations, businesses and governments, to a common platform to produce, evidence-based politically actionable guidance and unlock greater value, through human enterprise.^[5] Additionally, Saran is a Member of the Board of Advisors of the Global Panel Foundation, a respected NGO that works behind the scenes in crisis areas around the world.^[6]

Bibliography

Essays and reporting

• Saran, Shyam (6 October 2014). "Crucible of convergence". India Today. 39 (40): 26–28. 

References

External links

• Profile on website of Ministry of External Affairs of India