Ruchira Kamboj

Diplomat

Indian Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Quick Info

ProfessionDiplomat
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth03/05/1964
Age62 years
BirthplaceLucknow, Uttar Pradesh

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Bio/Wiki

Distinguished Indian diplomat with nearly four decades of experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, global strategy, and negotiation.
First Indian woman to serve as Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2022-2024).
First Indian woman to preside over the UN Security Council (December 2022).
1987 batch Indian Foreign Service officer and all-India women's topper of the 1987 Civil Services examination.

Physical Stats & More

Height5' 4" (163 cm)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorBlack
LanguagesHindi, English, French

Personal Life

Raised as an army officer's daughter, attended schools in Delhi, Baroda, and Jammu.
Father instilled values of punctuality and impeccable dressing during her upbringing.
Studied French at Institut Catholique, Paris and Alliance Française Paris during her early diplomatic posting.

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried

Family

HusbandDiwakar Kamboj (businessman)
ChildrenOne daughter
FatherName
MotherName

Career

Current PositionSenior Fellow for International Security and Global Affairs at Delhi Policy Group (since June 2024)
Permanent Representative to the United Nations2022-2024
Ambassador to Bhutan2019-2022 (first female ambassador to Bhutan)
High Commissioner to South Africa and Lesotho2017-2019
Permanent Representative to UNESCO2014-2017
Chief of Protocol to the Government of India2011-2014 (first woman to hold this position)
Consul General in Cape Town, South Africa2006-2009
Counsellor at India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations2002-2005
Deputy Head of the Office of the Secretary-General at Commonwealth Secretariat2009-2011
Third Secretary at Indian Embassy to France1989-1991
Career Duration35+ years (1987-2024)
Under Secretary in Europe West Division, Ministry of External Affairs1991-1996
Second Secretary at Indian Embassy to France1991-1992
Retirement Date01/06/2024

Social Media

Email[email protected]

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Ruchira Kamboj made history on 21 June 2022, becoming India’s first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
2. She has held several prestigious diplomatic positions, including Indian Ambassador to Bhutan and High Commissioner to South Africa.
3. Raised as an army officer’s daughter, Kamboj attended schools in Delhi, Baroda, and Jammu in her early years.
4. Her father instilled in her the values of punctuality and dressing impeccably during her upbringing.
5. In 1987, she emerged as the top-ranking woman in the Civil Services Examination and also topped the Indian Foreign Service batch.
6. Kamboj served as a diplomat in Paris, Mauritius, and within the Ministry of External Affairs in various roles early in her career.
7. She handled important responsibilities like representing India at key international events and supervising state visits of Indian dignitaries.
8. Kamboj's career also included assignments at the United Nations in New York, Cape Town, and the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
9. As Chief of Protocol for India, she managed visits of top dignitaries and organized significant international summits on Indian soil.
10. Her tenure as India’s Ambassador to UNESCO in Paris saw the addition of several Indian heritage sites to UNESCO lists.
11. Kamboj received global acclaim for promoting Yoga and showcasing India’s cultural heritage during her diplomatic assignments.
12. She played key roles in inscribing Indian landmarks on the World Heritage List and promoting India’s soft power globally.
13. In 2022, Kamboj took on the prestigious role as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
14. She officially retired from foreign service on June 1, 2024, after a distinguished 35-year career.
15. She became the first Indian woman to preside over the UN Security Council in December 2022.
16. Post-retirement, she serves as Senior Fellow for International Security and Global Affairs at the Delhi Policy Group.
17. She is fluent in three languages: Hindi, English, and French.
18. She began her diplomatic career as Third Secretary in the Indian Embassy to France in Paris from 1989 to 1991.
19. From 2002 to 2005, she served as Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, handling issues like UN Peacekeeping, UN Security Council Reform, and the Middle East crisis.
20. She served as Consul General in Cape Town, South Africa from 2006 to 2009, liaising with the Parliament of South Africa and steering visits including that of the President of India in 2008.
21. From 2009 to 2011, she was seconded to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London as Deputy Head of the Office of the Secretary-General.
22. She is a public speaker and thought leader who has addressed prestigious forums including Harvard and Columbia Universities.
23. She has contributed commentaries on global diplomacy, multilateralism, and India's foreign policy to various publications.
24. She officially retired from foreign service on 01/06/2024, after a distinguished 35-year career.
25. She studied French at Institut Catholique, Paris and Alliance Française Paris during her early diplomatic posting in France.
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