New Delhi, May 31: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who retired as Foreign Secretary in January 2018, has now been appointed as the Minister of External Affairs (MEA). With the allocation of the portfolios, Jaishankar has now replaced Former MEA Sushma Swaraj. The 63-year-old leader became a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers by taking oath with the other ministers at a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 30.  Sushma Swaraj Bids Goodbye To External Affairs Ministry In Narendra Modi Cabinet, Leaves Twitter Teary-Eyed.

Jaishankar, a former Indian diplomat, has been India's longest-serving foreign secretary in four decades. He was appointed in January 2015, few days before his retirement, replacing Sujata Singh.

Jaishankar had previously served as Foreign Secretary from January 2015 to January 2018. He joined Indian Foreign Service in 1977. The newly appointed minister had previously served as Indian Ambassador to the United States (2014–2015), China (2009–2013) and the Czech Republic (2001–04), and as High Commissioner to Singapore (2007–09). Jaishankar also played a key role in negotiating the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement. List of First-Time Ministers in Narendra Modi Cabinet 2.0: Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Arvind Sawant Among First-Timers. 

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From 2007 to 2009, Jaishankar served as India’s High Commissioner  to Singapore. He was India's longest-serving ambassador to China, with a four-and-a-half year term. In 2012, he became the first Indian ambassador in ten years to visit Tibet. PM Narendra Modi Congratulates Newly Appointed Ministers, Vows to Work For Country's Progress.

After his retirement in 2018, Jaishankar had joined Tata Sons as President, Global Corporate Affairs. In 2019, Jaishankar was conferred with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of the country. On 30 May 2019, he was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the second Modi ministry.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 31, 2019 01:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).