New Delhi: Senior diplomat Vikas Swarup, whose debut novel was made into the Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire", today assumed charge as spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry.
Swarup, a 1986 batch IFS officer, succeeded Syed Akbaruddin, who has been promoted as Additional Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, and he will also be the Chief Coordinator for the India-Africa Summit in October.
Both Akbaruddin and Swarup, who had accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his three-nation tour, returned to India on Saturday.
Swarup is the author of internationally acclaimed novel "Q&A," which was made into the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" that won eight Academy Awards in 2009.
Before assuming charge, Swarup was holding the charge of Joint Secretary (United Nations- Political) in the MEA.
On Saturday, Swarup posted these photos with Akbaruddin and Modi on Twitter.
Farewell friends.
@MEAIndia to be with my colleague Vikas Swarup who, as u can see, is fully in the picture
:-) pic.twitter.com/Tza6oUshh4
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 18, 2015
