Born: 7 August 1965
Service: Indian Foreign Service (IFS), 1991 batch
Education: B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemical Engineering and M.Sc. (Hons) in Biological Sciences from BITS Pilani
Current Position: Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (since 5 August 2024)
🌍 Diplomatic Career
- Shri Lal is a career diplomat with extensive experience in European, African, and multilateral arenas.
- Served as Ambassador to Sweden and Latvia from December 2020 to July 2024. Prior to that, he was High Commissioner to Mauritius and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York.
- Held postings in Bonn, Tehran, Vienna (also accredited to Slovenia), Bangkok (also accredited to Somalia and Eritrea), and Nairobi (as Deputy High Commissioner and Deputy Permanent Representative).
- In headquarters at the MEA, he led divisions covering UN Economic & Social Affairs and East & Southern Africa, playing a key role in shaping India’s policies on climate change, human rights, the UN’s Agenda 2030, and Africa strategy.
📌 Role as Secretary (West)
Appointed in August 2024, Shri Lal oversees India’s foreign relations with Western Europe, North America, multilateral forums, and UN engagements.
Since taking the role, he has:
- Engaged with SCO diplomats to reinforce regional cooperation.
- Led India’s delegation at the Raisina Dialogue, advancing collaborations with European partners in trade, space, technology, and clean energy.
- Hosted envoys from Armenia and Georgia to discuss strategic infrastructure initiatives and embassy expansions.
🏅 Recognition
He was honored with the S.K. Singh Award in 2013 for excellence in diplomatic service.
📝 Summary
Shri Tanmaya Lal is a highly experienced diplomat whose career spans critical bilateral and multilateral roles. As Secretary (West), he plays a central role in advancing India’s strategic relationships with Western nations and key global bodies, prioritizing dialogue, cooperation, and global partnerships.