Ruchira Kamboj made history on 21 June 2022, becoming India’s first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations. |
She has held several prestigious diplomatic positions, including Indian Ambassador to Bhutan and High Commissioner to South Africa. |
Raised as an army officer’s daughter, Kamboj attended schools in Delhi, Baroda, and Jammu in her early years. |
Her father instilled in her the values of punctuality and dressing impeccably during her upbringing. |
In 1987, she emerged as the top-ranking woman in the Civil Services Examination and also topped the Indian Foreign Service batch. |
Kamboj served as a diplomat in Paris, Mauritius, and within the Ministry of External Affairs in various roles early in her career. |
She handled important responsibilities like representing India at key international events and supervising state visits of Indian dignitaries. |
Kamboj's career also included assignments at the United Nations in New York, Cape Town, and the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. |
As Chief of Protocol for India, she managed visits of top dignitaries and organized significant international summits on Indian soil. |
Her tenure as India’s Ambassador to UNESCO in Paris saw the addition of several Indian heritage sites to UNESCO lists. |
Kamboj received global acclaim for promoting Yoga and showcasing India’s cultural heritage during her diplomatic assignments. |
She played key roles in inscribing Indian landmarks on the World Heritage List and promoting India’s soft power globally. |
In 2022, Kamboj took on the prestigious role as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. |
She officially retired from foreign service on June 1, 2024, after a distinguished 35-year career. |