Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and historian Meenakshi Jain were among four individuals nominated to the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.

Shringla, a distinguished diplomat, has held key positions during his career in the Indian Foreign Service, including serving as India’s ambassador to the United States, High Commissioner to Bangladesh, and ambassador to Thailand. 

He was Foreign Secretary from 2020 to 2022 and later served as Chief Coordinator for India’s G20 presidency in 2023.

An alumnus of Mayo College, Ajmer, and St Stephen’s College, Delhi, Shringla was a topper in the 1984 civil services batch. He hails from the Darjeeling hills in West Bengal. 

In 2023, he launched the Darjeeling Welfare Society, sparking speculation about a potential electoral run — which he later dismissed.

During his diplomatic tenure, Shringla played a central role in several high-profile events, including the “Howdy Modi” gathering in Texas in 2019.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the nomination in a post on X, writing: “Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla Ji has excelled as a diplomat, intellectual and strategic thinker. Over the years, he’s made key contributions to India’s foreign policy and also contributed to our G20 Presidency. Glad that he’s been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India. His unique perspectives will greatly enrich Parliamentary proceedings.”

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