The Ministry of External Affairs announced on Monday that Nagma Mohamed Mallick, a distinguished 1991-batch Indian Foreign Service officer and the current Ambassador of India to Japan, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Marshall Islands. She will maintain her residence in Tokyo while undertaking this additional diplomatic responsibility.
Diplomatic Career and Background
Nagma Mohamed Mallick is expected to assume her new assignment shortly, according to an official statement from the ministry. The Marshall Islands, an island nation situated in the central Pacific Ocean within the Micronesia region, lies approximately halfway between Hawaii and Australia, marking a strategic location for India's diplomatic outreach.
Educational and Linguistic Proficiency
Mallick, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1991, holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and a Master's degree in Sociology. Her linguistic skills are impressive, as she is fluent in English, French, Hindi, Urdu, and Malayalam, enhancing her capability to engage in diverse international settings.
Early Career and Key Roles
Her diplomatic journey began in Paris, where she served at the Indian Embassy and the Indian Mission to UNESCO. In New Delhi, she started as a Desk Officer in the West Europe Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and later worked on the personal staff of Prime Minister IK Gujral in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) from 1997 to 1998.
Following her tenure at the PMO, Mallick made history by becoming the first woman Deputy Chief of Protocol (Ceremonial). She further enriched her experience with postings in Nepal and Sri Lanka, serving as First Secretary and Counsellor, respectively.
Notable Positions and Contributions
Mallick has also served as the Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi and as Director in the Eurasia Division, where she oversaw India's bilateral relations with Russia and the CIS countries. From July 2010 to September 2012, she was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy in Thailand.
Her ambassadorial roles include serving as the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Tunisia from October 2012 to November 2015, and as India's High Commissioner to Brunei, Darussalam, from December 2015 to December 2018.
Policy and Leadership Roles
Born in New Delhi to Keralite parents from Kasaragod, Mallick studied at St Stephen's College and the Delhi School of Economics before successfully clearing the civil services exam. She has held significant policy positions, including head of the Policy Planning Division of the Ministry from February 2019 to January 2020, and Additional Secretary (Africa) until August 2021, where she managed relations with Eastern and Southern African nations and supervised ties across the entire African continent.
Recent Assignments and Current Status
Prior to her current role in Japan, Mallick served as the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Poland from September 2021 until her appointment to Japan in October of last year. Her extensive career showcases a commitment to advancing India's foreign policy objectives across multiple regions.
This concurrent accreditation to the Marshall Islands underscores India's growing diplomatic engagement in the Pacific region, leveraging Mallick's seasoned expertise to strengthen bilateral ties and promote mutual interests.
