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- He served as First Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Washington, Consul General of India in Frankfurt, and later as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.
- Earlier in his career, he also worked at the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, where he headed the political and administrative wing and contributed to the opening of the Indian diplomatic mission there.
- With Sandhu taking over as Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, the national capital will see a new administrative leadership at a time when governance in the city continues to remain a politically significant and closely watched arena.
In a significant administrative reshuffle, former Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as the new Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Delhi. The announcement was made by the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday.
Sandhu will succeed Vinai Kumar Saxena, who has held the post since May 26, 2022. Saxena has now been appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, replacing Kavinder Gupta, who will take over as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
The changes are part of a broader set of gubernatorial appointments and transfers announced by the President’s office. In another key move, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi has been reassigned to West Bengal, replacing C.V. Ananda Bose, who submitted his resignation earlier in the day. The resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu. Meanwhile, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will temporarily discharge the duties of the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
Additionally, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain has been appointed as the new Governor of Bihar.
Veteran Diplomat Takes Charge
Taranjit Singh Sandhu brings with him more than three decades of experience in diplomacy and public service. A 1988-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Sandhu served as India’s Ambassador to the United States from February 2020 until January 31, 2024. During his tenure, he played an important role in strengthening India–US strategic and diplomatic relations.
Over the course of his diplomatic career, Sandhu held several significant assignments. He served as First Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Washington, Consul General of India in Frankfurt, and later as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. Earlier in his career, he also worked at the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, where he headed the political and administrative wing and contributed to the opening of the Indian diplomatic mission there.
Academic Background
Sandhu completed his undergraduate studies at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later pursued a Master of Arts from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi.
Changes to Take Effect Soon
According to the Rashtrapati Bhavan statement, the new appointments and transfers will come into effect from the dates when the respective appointees assume charge of their offices.
With Sandhu taking over as Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, the national capital will see a new administrative leadership at a time when governance in the city continues to remain a politically significant and closely watched arena.
