India's new envoy to Nepal reaches Kathmandu

Kathmandu: India's new envoy to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri on Saturday arrived here and would submit his credentials to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday. Puri, a 1982 batch IFS officer, was on March 10 appointed as India's 24th ambassador to Nepal.

His predecessor Ranjit Rae completed his three and a half year-tenure on February 28.

Puri, born in 1959, is scheduled to submit his letters of credence to President Bhandari tomorrow, according to reports.

Before being assigned to Kathmandu mission, he was India's Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Prior to Brussels, he was India's Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York from 2009 to 2013. He was also a senior member of India's Security Council team during the years 2011 and 2012, when India served on the Security Council.

From 2005-09, he headed the United Nations Division in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi dealing with economic and social issues.

In the course of his Foreign Service career, Puri has served twice in Germany (in Bonn from 1984-86 and Berlin from 1991-94). He was the coordinator of the Festival of India in Germany in 1991-92 and established the Indian Cultural Centre in Berlin.

Puri has a Masters degree in Management. He did his BA (Honours) in Economics from St Stephen's College in New Delhi.