New Delhi: Hansraj Singh Verma, a 2008-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Cuba.
The Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment on September 18, 2026. Verma is currently serving as Consul General of India in São Paulo, Brazil, a position he assumed on September 14, 2024.
He will take charge of India’s diplomatic mission in Havana from outgoing Ambassador T. Armstrong Changsan.
Verma’s appointment comes after a career spanning diplomatic assignments in Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America, besides several responsibilities at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) headquarters in New Delhi.
Hansraj Singh Verma: From São Paulo to Havana
Verma has been serving as Consul General of India in São Paulo since September 2024.
The official profile of the Consulate General of India in São Paulo describes him as an Indian Foreign Service officer with experience across several Indian diplomatic missions and at the MEA headquarters.
During his tenure in São Paulo, he has been involved in India’s engagement with Brazilian government institutions, the business community and the Indian diaspora.
The Consulate’s official records also show his participation in trade, cultural and community engagements. In 2026, he inaugurated the Indian Pavilion at FEIMEC, one of Brazil’s major machinery trade fairs, and participated in events involving Indian and Brazilian stakeholders.
He was also part of India’s engagement around Brazil’s BRICS presidency, including the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
Who Is Hansraj Singh Verma?
Hansraj Singh Verma is a career diplomat belonging to the 2008 batch of the Indian Foreign Service.
Before taking charge in São Paulo, he served as Counsellor in charge of Political and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of India in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
His diplomatic experience includes assignments at Indian missions in Chittagong, Paris, Accra, Frankfurt, Maputo, Lisbon and Buenos Aires.
These postings have given him experience in bilateral relations, political and commercial affairs, consular work and mission administration across different regions.
Deputy Chief of Protocol at MEA Headquarters
One of Verma’s significant assignments at the MEA headquarters was as Deputy Chief of Protocol.
He served as Deputy Chief of Protocol from March 2019 to July 2021.
During his tenure at headquarters, he dealt with a range of subjects including passport and visa matters, extradition, United Nations affairs, diplomatic protocol and administration.
The role gave him experience in the diplomatic and administrative functions handled centrally by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Diplomatic Postings Across Several Countries
Verma’s career has included assignments across multiple Indian diplomatic missions.
He served at the Assistant High Commission of India in Chittagong, Bangladesh, and later had assignments at the Embassy of India in Paris, the High Commission of India in Accra and the Consulate General of India in Frankfurt.
He also served at the High Commission of India in Maputo, Mozambique, and the Embassy of India in Lisbon, Portugal.
Before his current São Paulo assignment, he was posted at the Embassy of India in Buenos Aires, where he handled Political and Commercial Affairs.
Education and Areas of Work
According to the official São Paulo Consulate profile, Verma is a postgraduate in English. The profile also notes his interest in reading, writing Hindi poetry and travelling.
His professional experience covers several areas of diplomatic and consular work, including passport and visa matters, extradition, United Nations affairs, protocol and administration.
His varied assignments have also involved political and commercial relations, giving him experience in both bilateral diplomacy and consular responsibilities.
Experience in Brazil’s Commercial Hub
São Paulo is Brazil’s major commercial and economic centre, and Verma’s tenure there has involved engagement with government representatives, businesses, Indian community organisations and cultural institutions.
The Consulate’s official website records his participation in commercial and cultural initiatives, including engagement with India’s business community and Brazilian institutions.
His tenure also coincided with Brazil’s hosting of the BRICS presidency and the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, providing an important setting for India’s engagement with Brazil.
New Assignment as Ambassador to Cuba
With his appointment as Ambassador to Cuba, Verma will now move from a senior consular and diplomatic assignment in Brazil to head India’s diplomatic mission in Havana.
The appointment was formally announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on September 18, 2026.
As Ambassador, he will represent India in Cuba and oversee the functioning of the Indian mission in Havana.
His previous experience in political and commercial affairs, protocol, consular matters and administration forms the backdrop to his new diplomatic assignment.
Personal Life
Hansraj Singh Verma is married to Kalpana Hansraj. The couple has a son and a daughter, according to his official Consulate General profile.
With his appointment to Cuba, the 2008-batch diplomat is set to take on his first ambassadorial assignment, adding another significant chapter to a career spanning Indian diplomatic missions across several continents and responsibilities at the MEA headquarters.
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