In a significant diplomatic move, the Government of India has appointed seasoned diplomat Nagesh Singh as the country's next High Commissioner to Australia. The announcement was made on Monday, December 15, 2025.
A Distinguished Diplomatic Career
Nagesh Singh, a 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is currently serving as India's Ambassador to Thailand. He is slated to succeed Gopal Baglay as the head of mission in Canberra, Australia's capital.
Singh's diplomatic portfolio is marked by a series of high-profile postings. Immediately prior to his ambassadorship in Thailand, he held the crucial position of Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) from July 2018 to October 2022. In this role, he was the principal advisor on state and diplomatic protocol, managing visits of foreign dignitaries and high-level ceremonies.
Previous Key Assignments
His career graph showcases a diverse range of experiences across continents and critical desks:
- Consul General of India in Atlanta, USA (June 2015 - June 2018)
- Officer on Special Duty to the Vice President of India (September 2012 - June 2015)
- Director at the MEA's Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran Division (February 2010 - August 2012)
Earlier in his career, Singh also served at the Indian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and at the Indian Embassy in Paris, France, giving him substantial multilateral and European exposure.
Educational Background and Outlook
Academically, Nagesh Singh is a graduate in Economics from the University of Delhi. He further honed his expertise by earning a post-graduate degree from the prestigious Delhi School of Economics.
His appointment comes at a time when India and Australia are deepening their strategic partnership across multiple domains, including trade, defence, education, and critical minerals. Singh's extensive experience in multilateral forums, complex bilateral desks like the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division, and his recent leadership in Thailand positions him well to steer the important India-Australia relationship forward.
The move is part of a routine diplomatic rotation but underscores the importance New Delhi places on its ties with Canberra. Observers expect Singh to leverage his wide-ranging experience to bolster the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two Quad partner nations.
