Sudhakar Dalela appointed as India’s next ambassador to Nepal

India has selected Sudhakar Dalela as its next ambassador to Nepal, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday. Dalela is expected to assume his new responsibilities shortly. He will take over from Naveen Srivastava, who assumed office as ambassador in Kathmandu on 25 June 2022 and served for more than four years. Dalela is a career diplomat from the 1993 batch of the Indian Foreign Service. Before this appointment, he worked as Secretary of Economic Relations within the Ministry of External Affairs. Reports indicate this marks a notable instance of a secretary-level diplomat from the ministry being assigned to the ambassadorial post in Kathmandu. His professional background includes previous postings within the North Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, where he served as an official between 2006 and 2007, and later as Joint Secretary from 2016 to 2019. During these periods, his responsibilities included working closely on diplomatic matters concerning Nepal and Bhutan. The appointment brings a specialist with extensive regional experience to the post as Kathmandu and New Delhi pursue closer collaboration in connectivity, trade, energy initiatives, and broader regional ties. His past involvement with Nepal-related matters and work in the Indian prime minister’s office are expected to support his upcoming tenure, alongside ongoing bilateral discussions. Concurrently, the transition comes as Nepal prepares to dispatch its own ambassador to India, as reported by officials. Both nations share extensive social, cultural, and economic connections across an open border, with ongoing efforts focused on strengthening economic partnerships and resolving longstanding bilateral issues.