Ranjan Mathai

Ranjan Mathai (born 1952) is an Indian diplomat who was a former Indian Foreign Secretary and Indian High Commissioner to the UK. Prior to this, he served as Foreign Secretary of India from 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2013.

Ranjan Mathai was born in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India. He did his post graduate studies in Political Science at the University of Pune. His father, Thomas Mathai, was a senior faculty member at the National Defence Academy. His mother Sara was a teacher at Khadakvasla, Pune.

Ranjan Mathai is a 1974 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer. Ranjan Mathai, former foreign secretary of India, has taken over as India's next high commissioner to the UK on Monday, 9 December 2013. He succeeds Jaimini Bhagwati, who retired recently.He was the Foreign Secretary for India prior to this position. On 31 July 2013, he demitted office and Sujatha Singh took over as the new Foreign Secretary.

He joined the IFS after completing post graduate studies in Political Science at the University of Poona. He has served in Indian Embassies in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels.

As Joint Secretary (BSM) in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi (January 1995 to February 1998), he headed the Division dealing with India's relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives. Mathai has also served as Indian Ambassador to Israel – February 1998 to June 2001, and was the Indian Ambassador in Qatar from August 2001 to July 2005. He held the post of Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK in London from August 2005 to January 2007.

He became Ambassador of India to France in January 2007.

Ranjan Mathai is married to Geetha Mathai.