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Ruchira Kamboj (née Patni, born 3 May 1964) is a retired Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1987 batch, who last served as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from August 2022 to May 2024 until her retirement. She has previously served as High Commissioner of India to South Africa, first female Indian Ambassador to Bhutan and Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, Paris.

On 21 June 2022, Kamboj was appointed as the Ambassador/Permanent Representative – designate of India to the United Nations in New York. Her appointment made her the first female Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. She assumed charge as PR-designate on 1 August 2022 and served there till 31 May 2024.

She served as the President of the UN Security Council in December 2022, becoming the first woman from India to hold this position.

Professional career

Entry into the Indian Foreign Service

Ruchira Kamboj joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1987, emerging as the All India women's topper and the topper of the Foreign Service batch.

First Posting in Paris

She began her diplomatic career in Paris, serving as the Third Secretary at the Indian Embassy from 1989 to 1991. During this period, she studied French at the Institut Catholique and the Alliance française. Upon completing her language studies, she worked as Second Secretary, dealing with political issues.

Service in Delhi and Mauritius

Under Secretary in Delhi: Returning to Delhi, she served as Under Secretary in the Europe West Division of India's Ministry of External Affairs from 1991 to 1996. She managed India's relations with France, the UK, the BENELUX countries, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. She also handled India's relationship with the Commonwealth of Nations and represented India at the 14th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, in October 1995.

Posting in Mauritius: From 1996 to 1999, she was First Secretary (Economic and Commercial) and Head of Chancery at the Indian High Commission in Port Louis, Mauritius. She played a key role in organizing the state visit of Prime Minister Deve Gowda to Mauritius in 1998 and Prime Minister IK Gujral’s visit to South Africa in 1997.

Key Roles in India

Deputy Secretary and Director in Delhi: Upon her return to Delhi, Kamboj served as Deputy Secretary and later Director in charge of Foreign Service Personnel and Cadre in the Ministry of External Affairs from June 1999 to March 2002, marking one of the longest tenures in this critical administrative role.

United Nations, New York

Counsellor at the Permanent Mission: From 2002 to 2005, she was posted as Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. She handled a range of political issues including UN Peacekeeping and UN Security Council Reform, and was part of the G-4 team working on Security Council expansion.

Consul General and Commonwealth Secretariat

Consul General in Cape Town: Serving as India’s Consul General in Cape Town from 2006 to 2009, she liaised closely with the South African Parliament and managed high-profile visits, including those of the President of India and the President of the Congress Party.

Deputy Head at Commonwealth Secretariat: Kamboj was Deputy Head of the Office of the Secretary General at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. She attended the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.

Chief of Protocol

Historic Role: From 2011 to 2014, she served as India’s Chief of Protocol, the first and only woman to hold this position. She directed all outgoing visits of high-ranking officials and managed incoming visits of foreign dignitaries, including handling international summits such as the 4th BRICS Summit and the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit.

Ambassador to UNESCO, Paris

• Notable Contributions and Achievements: Appointed as India’s Ambassador to UNESCO in Paris in 2014, Kamboj made significant contributions to India's cultural and heritage diplomacy. During her tenure, three Indian sites were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2016: Nalanda Mahavihara, the Capitol Complex of Chandigarh, and Khangchendzonga National Park, marking an unprecedented achievement for India. Earlier, in 2014, she was instrumental in getting Rani ki Vav and The Great Himalayan National Park inscribed on the World Heritage List.
• Promoting Indian Heritage: In 2015, Kamboj successfully facilitated the inclusion of Varanasi and Jaipur as India's first Creative Cities in the UNESCO list. Her efforts bore fruit again in December 2016, when Yoga was declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a milestone for India's cultural heritage on a global platform.
• Historic Inscription: In July 2017, she led the initiative to inscribe Ahmedabad as India's first World Heritage City, garnering the full support of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. Under her leadership, India established its first UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala.
• Prominent Conferences:  In April 2016, Kamboj organized an International Conference on the Zero at UNESCO, showcasing India's significant contributions to mathematics and science. The conference featured eminent mathematicians from around the world, including Fields Medalists Professor Manjul Bhargava and Professor Laurent Lafforgue. To honor India's mathematical heritage, a bust of the ancient Indian mathematician Aryabhata was gifted to UNESCO, now adorning the principal entrance of the organization.

India-Africa Forum Summit

Special Assignments: In 2015, she was called back to assist in organizing the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit, which saw participation from the Heads of State and Government of the 54-member African Union.

High Commissioner to South Africa and Lesotho

• Strengthening Bilateral Relations: From July 2017 to March 2019, Kamboj served as the High Commissioner of India to South Africa, concurrently accredited to the Kingdom of Lesotho. Her tenure was marked by several high-profile visits and initiatives that bolstered India-South Africa relations.
• India-South Africa Business Summit: She organized the first-ever India-South Africa Business Summit in Johannesburg on April 29–30, 2018. The event saw significant participation from business leaders and government officials, including Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, aiming to enhance trade and investment ties between the two nations.
• Commemoration of the Pietermaritzburg Incident: In June 2018, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the 125th anniversary of the Pietermaritzburg incident, a pivotal event in Mahatma Gandhi’s life. This commemoration served as a precursor to Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations and included the installation of a unique two-sided bust of Gandhi and an interactive digital museum at Pietermaritzburg station in Durban.
• Defense Ties and Prime Ministerial Visits: During her tenure, the resolution of the Denel issue reopened defense ties between India and South Africa after a prolonged gap. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Johannesburg in July 2018 for the BRICS summit reaffirmed the strategic importance of the India-South Africa relationship. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to India as the Chief Guest for the 70th Republic Day Parade in January 2019 further underscored the strong bilateral ties.

Ambassador to Bhutan

Key Initiatives: Appointed as the 18th Ambassador to Bhutan in 2019, she facilitated numerous initiatives, including the introduction of the RuPay Card, the launch of the India-Bhutan Satellite project, and the opening of new trade routes. India’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic were recognized with Bhutan’s highest civilian honor awarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021.

PR / Ambassador of India to the United Nations, New York

Ruchira Kamboj formally assumed the position of PR / Ambassador of India to New York 2 August 2022.

During her tenure, she notably represented India in the UN Security Council from August to December 2022, achieving the unique distinction of becoming the first Indian woman to preside over the Security Council in December 2022.

Her stint at the UN was marked by several accomplishments

• In October 2022, she chaired the first meeting of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee held outside New York in seven years, culminating in the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration—a major milestone.
• In December 2022, she served as the President of the UN Security Council, where she led two signature meetings in an open format focused on reformed multilateralism and counter-terrorism, aligning with India's foreign policy priorities. A Presidential Statement on counter-terrorism was adopted under her presidency. Additionally, under her stewardship, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was installed in the prestigious North Lawns of the UN and was inaugurated by Secretary-General António Guterres and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.
• A historic moment of her term was the adoption of a Resolution spearheaded by India to establish a peacekeeping memorial wall, receiving support from 190 member states—the highest support ever for any UN resolution.

• She highlighted International Yoga Day on 21 June 2023, setting a Guinness World Record for the most nationalities participating in a single yoga session, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Two international conferences were significant highlights: the Conference on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in October 2023 and the first International Conference on Digital Public Infrastructure in April 2024.

Personal life

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Her father served as an officer in the Indian Army, while her mother was a professor of Sanskrit at the University of Delhi. Due to her father's military postings, she received her education in various cities, including Delhi, Vadodara, and Jammu. She went on to complete her higher education at Isabella Thoburn College in Lucknow and then earned a postgraduate degree in Political Science and International Relations from Delhi University.

She is married and has a daughter. Ruchira is proficient in three languages: Hindi, English, and French. Her body of work includes numerous op-eds and publications related to her field. Additionally, her expertise has led to invitations to speak at distinguished forums both in India and around the world, including notable appearances at Harvard University and Columbia University

References

1. "H. E. Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj". High Commission of India, Pretoria. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
2. Bureau, The Hindu (14 August 2024). "Parvathaneni Harish appointed as India's Permanent Representative to U.N." The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 August 2024. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
3. "Success Story: Meet IFS Ruchira Kamboj, India's First Woman Ambassador to the UN". New18. 12 November 2022.
4. "Welcome to Embassy of India Thimphu, Bhutan".
5. "Call of protocol". The Indian Express.
6. Nath, Tripti. "India's first woman Chief of Protocol is back in Paris where she started". The Weekend Leader.
7. "For the sake of protocol, MEA turns to IFS officer Ruchira Kamboj". Times of India.
8. "Ms. Ruchira Kamboj appointed as the next Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, Paris". Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
9. "3 Indian Sites Make It To UNESCO's World Heritage List". NDTV.
10. "Nalanda Mahavihara on world heritage map at last". India Today.
11. "While Nalanda was most challenging, Chandigarh wasn't easy either, says Ruchira Kamboj".
12. "Spirituality is not 'secular'". Indian Mandarins - New Media Network.
13. "Ahmedabad declared India's first heritage city by UNESCO". The Hindu.
14. "Ahmedabad is first Indian city to get UNESCO heritage tag". The Economic Times.
15. "Amrita becomes first university in India to get UNESCO Chair for gender equality and women's development".
16. "International Conference on the Zer0" (PDF).
17. "UNESCO pays homage to Aryabhatta, other Indian mathematicians". India Today.
18. "Transcript of Media Briefing on 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit (October 16, 2015)". Ministry of External Affairs.
19. "Ruchira Kamboj appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of South Africa". Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
20. "125 years later - Gandhi's historic ejection from train to be remembered". Times Live.
21. "Pomp and ceremony as day Gandhi kicked off train relived". Times Live.
22. "Mahatma Gandhi's removal from a 'White's Only' train to be re-enacted in KZN". Business Day.
23. "OPED - An ideology that changed the world". The Mercury.
24. "India's victory over colonialism an inspiration for Africa: SA minister". Indian Express.
25. "Strong relationship bodes well for boosting India/South Africa trade and investment". Creamer Media's Engineering News.
26. "Trade expansion, direct India-South Africa flights mooted at business summit". The New Indian Express.
27. "Transcript of Media Briefing by Secretary (ER) on upcoming visit of President of South Africa to India (January 24, 2019)". Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
28. "New Indian Ambassador". The Bhutanese.
29. "New Ambassador of India to Bhutan, H.E. Ms. Ruchira Kamboj, presents her credentials". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Royal Government of Bhutan.
30. "Launch of BHIM-UPI in Bhutan to further strengthen bilateral ties: FM Nirmala Sitharaman". The Economic Times.
31. "Signing of Implementing Arrangement on the Joint Development of a Small Satellite for Bhutan". Indian Space Research Organisation, Department of Science.
32. "Bhutan and India sign joint satellite Implementing Arrangement". Kuensel.
33. "India will stand by our close friend and neighbour, Bhutan". Kuensel.
34. "Prime Minister of India conferred Bhutan's highest Civilian Award". Kuensel.
35. "UNANYC". UNANYC.
36. "If not reformed, U.N. will be overtaken by other organisations: Indian envoy Kamboj". The Hindu.
37. ""To Girls Out There...": India's First Woman UN Envoy On Taking Charge". NDTV.
38. "'A Privilege': Ruchira Kamboj, India's First Woman Envoy to UN, Assumes Charge". The Quint World.
39. "Counter-Terrorism Committee holds regional open briefing on Central Asia". Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), United Nations.
40. "India will continue to emphasize issues that are vital to the Global South countries: Indian envoy to UN Ruchira Kamboj at UNGA". ETV Bharat.
41. "India assumes the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of December". The Economic Times.
42. "India's UNSC presidency to mark arrival of Mahatma Gandhi's bust at UNHQ". The Hindu.
43. ""It was a matter of deep honour for us and UN": Ruchira Kamboj on PM Modi leading Yoga event at UN". The Economic Times.
44. "PM Modi-led Yoga session at UN creates Guinness World Record". The Hindu.
45. "International Conference on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is One Family)". United Nations, India.
46. "Indian ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, ICCR President unveils "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" plaque at Permanent Mission of India to UN". The Print.
47. "Within 6 yrs, India achieved 80% financial inclusion: Ruchira Kamboj". Business Standard.
48. "How India's digital public infrastructure can push inclusive". The Times of India.

External links

• https://www.iol.co.za/thepost/gandhis-teachings-needed-indian-high-commissioner-15136510

• Living people
• Indian civil servants
• Ambassadors of India to South Africa
• Ambassadors of India to Bhutan
• Women writers from Uttar Pradesh
• Indian women ambassadors
• 1964 births
• High commissioners of India to Lesotho
• Indian Foreign Service officers
• Delhi University alumni
• Alumni of the London School of Economics
• 20th-century Indian women civil servants
• 20th-century Indian civil servants
• 21st-century Indian women civil servants
• 21st-century Indian civil servants