New Delhi: Senior career diplomat Ravi Shankar, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of 1995 batch and currently serving as India’s Ambassador to Ukraine, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Hellenic Republic of Greece.
The appointment marks another key assignment in a distinguished diplomatic career spanning over three decades in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
1995-Batch IFS Officer with Global Diplomatic Experience
Mr Shankar joined the Indian Foreign Service in September 1995 after a strong academic background in engineering and management.
He holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Faculty of Management Studies Delhi University.
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Key Diplomatic Postings Across Continents
Over his diplomatic career, Ravi Shankar has served in several important Indian missions abroad, including:
- Paris (France)
- Tunis (Tunisia)
- Hanoi (Vietnam)
- Rome (Italy)
He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Rome, gaining significant experience in European diplomacy.
Ambassadorial and Senior Leadership Roles
IFS Shankar has held multiple high-level positions both abroad and at headquarters in New Delhi.
Ambassador/High Commissioner Roles:
- Ambassador to Ukraine (from August 2024)
- High Commissioner to Uganda (2017–2020), with concurrent accreditation to Rwanda and Burundi
- Next Ambassador to Greece (appointed April 2026)
Key Roles at Ministry of External Affairs
At headquarters, he has handled critical diplomatic and policy responsibilities, including:
- Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs (South East Asia Division)
- Joint Secretary, Multilateral Economic Relations Division
- Joint Secretary-cum-Social Secretary, President’s Secretariat (2020–2022)
- Chief Staff Officer to Minister of State for External Affairs (earlier posting)
These roles reflect his experience in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.
Recent Posting in Ukraine
Before his Greece appointment, Ravi Shankar was serving as India’s Ambassador to Ukraine, a sensitive diplomatic posting amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
He joined the Embassy of India in Kyiv in August 2024.
Career Spanning Europe, Africa, and Asia
His diplomatic experience spans multiple regions, including Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia, making him one of the experienced officers in India’s foreign service cadre.
With his new assignment to Greece, he will further strengthen India’s diplomatic engagement with the Mediterranean and European region.
Personal Background
Mr Shankar is married to Mrs. Akanksha Shankar, and the couple has a daughter and a son.
