New Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry

New Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry

Question: Who has been recently appointed as the new spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry?
(a) Deepak Mittal
(b) Gopal Baglay
(c) Vikas Swarup
(d) Syed Akbaruddin
Ans (b)
Related Fact :

  • On 27th February, 2017, senior diplomat Gopal Baglay was appointed spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry succeeding Vikas Swarup, who was made India’s new High Commissioner to Canada.
  • Mr. Baglay is a 1992-batch officer of Indian Foreign Service. He was handling the sensitive PAI (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) division in the ministry till now.
  • Apart from Spokesperson, his designation would also be Joint Secretary External Publicity (XP).
  • Baglay has held many key positions including Director, XP, Director PAI and Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan.
  • Deepak Mittal is the new in-charge of the PAI division.
  • Mr. Mittal, who joined the IFS in 1998, has since served in Bangladesh, Egypt and Israel in various capacities and as Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. His last position was as Joint Secretary in CPV (Consular, Passport and Visa) division.

Reference:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gopal-baglay-appointed-mea-spokesperson/1/892664.html