Taranjit Singh Sandhu India's Ex Ambassador to the US
Appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
Los Angeles/ Mar 11, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
India's most experienced diplomats in US affairs, having served multiple stints at the Indian mission in Washington, appointed Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, as part of a major reshuffle in governors and lieutenant governors in nine states and union territories of India
Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India's former ambassador to the US, has been ahead of crucial elections in several states in India.
About Taranjit Singh Sandhu:
Taranjit Singh Sandhu is an Indian politician and retired diplomat of Indian Foreign Service who is serving as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Delhi since 2026.
Sandhu presented his credentials to President Donald Trump in early February 2020 and served as the Ambassador of India to the United States until 31 January 2024.
In 2022, he was widely regarded as a potential candidate for the position of Foreign Secretary of India, though Vinay Mohan Kwatra ultimately assumed the role. Subsequently, Sandhu received a two-year extension as Ambassador to the United States.
In 2020, Taranjit Singh Sandhu named as India’s ambassador to Washington DC and he will succeed Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Harsh Shringla left Washington DC this week to start as the new foreign secretary in New Delhi.
From January 2017 to January 2020, Taranjit Sandhu is working as ambassador at Sri Lanka and leaving to Washington DC any time. Interestingly, Minister Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Shringla and Ambassador Sandhu are all from St Stephen’s College in Delhi.
Taranjit Sandhu’s decades experience in Washington DC with two previous postings made him a popular choice for the person Washington DC as the next ambassador
- July 2013 to January 2017: Sandhu was Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy of India in Washington D.C. He was also in Washington just after India’s nuclear test of 1998, which put New Delhi in the crosshairs of U.S. nuclear weapons policy, and is said to have worked behind the scenes to win over critics on Capitol Hill.
- September 2011 to July 2013: He served as Consul General of India in Frankfurt
- From 2009 to August 2011: He served in the Ministry of External Affairs as Joint Secretary (UN) and later as Joint Secretary (Administration) heading the Human Resource Division.
- From July 2005 to February 2009: Sandhu was stationed at the Permanent Mission of India to United Nations, New York.
- From December 2000 to September 2004: Sandhu served as the Head of the Political Wing in the High Commission of India, Colombo
- From 1990 to 1992 as Third Secretary (Political) / Second Secretary (Commercial): He worked in the former Soviet Union (Russia).
- From 1992 to 1994: After the breakup of Soviet Union, he was deputed to open a new Embassy in Ukraine.
- He served as Head of Political and Administration Wings at the Indian Embassy in Kiev
- From 1994 to March 1997: He served as Officer on Special Duty (Press Relations), Ministry of External Affairs. He was responsible for liaison with foreign media in India.
Taranjit Singh Sandhu was born on Jan. 23, 1963. Sandhu did his schooling at The Lawrence School Sanawar. He graduated with History Honors from St. Stephens’ College, Delhi.
He has a Masters Degree in International Relations from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is married to Reenat Sandhu, who is Ambassador of India to Italy. They have two children
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