Indian President Droupadi Murmu has nominated former Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla as a member to the Rajya Sabha, along with three other eminent individuals from the fields of law, history and social service.
The appointments were formalised on Saturday through a gazette notification under Article 80(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which empowers the President to nominate individuals with distinguished contributions in literature, science, art or social service.
Shringla, a veteran diplomat who served as India’s 33rd Foreign Secretary from January 2020 to April 2022, is widely respected for his strategic insight and long-standing diplomatic service. His prior roles include Ambassador to the United States and Thailand, and High Commissioner to Bangladesh. His induction into the upper house is expected to significantly enrich parliamentary debates on foreign policy and international affairs.
Joining him in the Rajya Sabha is Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, one of India’s most prominent public prosecutors, celebrated for his role in securing convictions in high-profile cases, including the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Nikam’s career spans decades of service to India’s justice system, particularly in prosecuting terrorism and organised crime.
The Indian President has also nominated Dr Meenakshi Jain, a respected historian and former academic at Delhi University, noted for her research on Indian civilisation and cultural heritage. The fourth appointee, C. Sadanandan Master, is a social worker from Kerala who has dedicated his life to public service after surviving a politically motivated attack in 1994.
These nominations come as replacements for outgoing nominated members. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the appointments and praised Shringla as a “seasoned diplomat, intellectual and strategic thinker,” whose presence in the Rajya Sabha would bring depth to legislative discussions on diplomacy and governance.
Shringla’s six-year term in the upper house will extend until July 2031. His most recent public service role was as Chief Coordinator of India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, where he oversaw critical global engagements. Since January 2025, he has also been serving as a Viksit Bharat Distinguished Fellow, contributing to national policy discourse.
With these appointments, the Rajya Sabha strengthens its intellectual and professional diversity—bringing together expertise in diplomacy, justice, history and grassroots activism to support its legislative mission.