Seasoned IFS Officer to Assume Key Role in Indian Ocean Region; Noted for Contributions to G20 and Digital Diplomacy
The Government of India, through an official announcement dated September 3, 2025, confirmed the appointment of Rohit Rathish (IFS: 2006) as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Seychelles. Currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Mr. Rathish is expected to assume charge of his new assignment in the coming weeks.
Strategic Posting in the Indian Ocean Region
Seychelles occupies a position of profound strategic importance for India within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), owing to its proximity to vital sea lanes and its longstanding partnership with India in areas of defense, maritime security, and development cooperation.
The appointment of a senior IFS officer such as Mr. Rathish underscores India’s determination to consolidate its engagement with Seychelles at a time when the Indo-Pacific has emerged as the fulcrum of global strategic discourse.
Distinguished Career in the Indian Foreign Service
Mr. Rathish joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2006, achieving an outstanding 3rd rank in the Civil Services Examination out of 433 successful candidates. Over the past decade and a half, he has held several pivotal positions in India’s diplomatic establishment, demonstrating both versatility and depth of experience.
His previous assignments include:
Deputy Consul at the Indian Consulate General in San Francisco
Deputy Chief Protocol Officer, MEA
Assistant Secretary, MEA
Director, Summits Division, MEA
Joint Secretary, MEA
Key Role in India’s G20 Presidency
A defining moment in Mr. Rathish’s career came during the G20 Summit hosted by India in 2023, where he was a critical behind-the-scenes architect. He oversaw logistics coordination and protocol management, ensuring seamless execution of one of India’s most consequential diplomatic events in recent history. His organizational skills and discretion earned him wide respect within policy and diplomatic circles.
Advocate for India’s Digital Public Infrastructure
In his recent portfolio at the MEA, Mr. Rathish emerged as a champion of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) on the global stage, particularly across the Global South. His sustained diplomatic outreach has contributed significantly to enhancing India’s visibility and influence in the spheres of digital governance, technology-driven development, and South-South cooperation.
A Promising Diplomat with a Quiet Presence
While Mr. Rathish maintains a low public profile, he is highly regarded within the diplomatic community as “exceptionally intelligent” and among the most promising IFS officers of his generation. His steady advancement within the MEA reflects the confidence reposed in him by the Government of India and his proven ability to deliver in high-stakes assignments.
Looking Ahead
As India intensifies its engagement with island nations of the Indo-Pacific, Mr. Rathish’s appointment as High Commissioner to Seychelles is expected to further bolster maritime diplomacy, expand defense cooperation, and advance collaborative initiatives in development, education, capacity building, and people-to-people ties.
His tenure is anticipated to reinforce India’s role as a steadfast partner in the Indian Ocean and strengthen the long-standing bonds of friendship with Seychelles.
