New Delhi: The Government of India has appointed Dr K Srikar Reddy (IFS:2001) as the next Ambassador of India to the State of Qatar, marking another significant diplomatic appointment by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Dr Reddy, who is currently serving as the Consul General of India in San Francisco, will succeed Ambassador Vipul, whose tenure in Doha has concluded.
The Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment on July 24, 2026, stating that Dr Reddy is expected to assume his new assignment shortly. A seasoned diplomat with over two decades of experience, he has served in key diplomatic, commercial and multilateral roles, besides playing an instrumental role in negotiating some of India’s most significant international trade agreements.
MEA Announces Appointment
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that Dr K Srikar Reddy, a 2001-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Qatar.
He currently heads the Consulate General of India in San Francisco, where he has been actively strengthening India’s engagement with the technology ecosystem of Silicon Valley and promoting collaborations in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and innovation.
A Doctor-Turned Diplomat from Telangana
Born in Warangal district of Telangana, Dr Reddy hails from Mothkur in the erstwhile Nalgonda district (now Yadadri Bhuvanagiri region).
Before joining the Indian Foreign Service, he pursued medicine and completed his MBBS from Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal, in 1996.
He is fluent in Telugu, Hindi, English and German, a skill that has supported his diplomatic assignments across Europe and other regions.
Diplomatic Career Spanning More Than Two Decades
Since joining the Indian Foreign Service in 2001, Dr Reddy has held several prestigious assignments both in India and abroad.
His major postings include:
- Ambassador-designate to Qatar (2026)
- Consul General of India, San Francisco
- Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce
- Consul General, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2017–2020)
- Counsellor, Permanent Mission of India to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva
- Officer at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York
- Assignments in Berlin (Germany), Switzerland and Vietnam
- Key responsibilities at MEA Headquarters handling the Pakistan Desk and East & Southern Africa Division
His diverse experience spans diplomacy, trade negotiations, multilateral affairs and commercial diplomacy.
Played a Key Role in India’s Landmark Trade Agreements
One of Dr Reddy’s most notable contributions came during his tenure as Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, where he emerged as one of India’s leading trade negotiators.
He played an important role in:
- Negotiating the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
- Finalising the India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA)
- Leading negotiations for the proposed India-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
- Heading discussions on the proposed India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement
His expertise in trade diplomacy significantly strengthened India’s commercial engagement with key global partners.
Transforming Passport Services in Hyderabad
Between 2011 and 2014, Dr Reddy served as the Regional Passport Officer (RPO), Hyderabad, where he introduced several administrative reforms that substantially improved passport delivery services across the then undivided Andhra Pradesh.
His work earned him the prestigious Passport Seva Puraskar (Best Passport Officer) in 2013 for excellence in public service and administrative innovation.
Strengthening India-US Technology Collaboration
As Consul General in San Francisco, Dr Reddy focused on expanding India’s engagement with Silicon Valley.
He actively promoted partnerships in:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Startup ecosystem collaborations
- Emerging technologies
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
His tenure helped strengthen technology-driven cooperation between India and the United States.
Second Diplomat from Telangana to Head Indian Mission in Qatar
With this appointment, Dr Reddy becomes the second diplomat from Telangana to serve as India’s Ambassador to Qatar after the late Prof. Dorai Bashiruddin, who headed the Indian mission in Doha between 1983 and 1986.
India-Qatar Relations Continue to Expand
Dr Reddy assumes charge at a time when India and Qatar are witnessing expanding cooperation across several strategic sectors.
Qatar hosts one of the largest Indian expatriate communities in the Gulf, including a sizeable population from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and other Indian states.
Bilateral relations have strengthened considerably in recent years through cooperation in:
- Energy security
- Trade and investment
- Defence cooperation
- Technology partnerships
- People-to-people exchanges
His extensive experience in commercial diplomacy and international negotiations is expected to further deepen India’s engagement with the Gulf nation.
Personal Life
Dr K Srikar Reddy is married to Prathima Koppula, an information technology professional. The couple has one son.
His unique journey from a medical graduate to one of India’s senior diplomats reflects a distinguished career dedicated to diplomacy, international trade and public service.
