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 the Indian Foreign Service who has been serving as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Delhi since 2026.
In early February 2020 Sandhu 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 was appointed as India’s Ambassador to Washington, D.C., succeeding Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who left Washington to assume office as the Foreign Secretary of India in New Delhi.
From January 2017 to January 2020, Sandhu served as the Ambassador of India to Sri Lanka, before moving to Washington, D.C. Interestingly, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and Ambassador Sandhu are all alumni of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.
Sandhu’s decades of experience in Washington, D.C., including two previous postings, made him a popular choice for the position of India’s Ambassador to the United States.
Diplomatic Career
- July 2013 – January 2017: Sandhu served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C. He had earlier served in Washington after India’s 1998 nuclear tests, when New Delhi faced strong criticism under U.S. nuclear policy. He is believed to have worked behind the scenes to engage critics on Capitol Hill.
- September 2011 – July 2013: Served as Consul General of India in Frankfurt, Germany.
- 2009 – August 2011: Served in the Ministry of External Affairs as Joint Secretary (United Nations) and later as Joint Secretary (Administration), heading the Human Resource Division.
- July 2005 – February 2009: Stationed at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York.
- December 2000 – September 2004: Served as Head of the Political Wing at the High Commission of India in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- 1990 – 1992: Served as Third Secretary (Political) / Second Secretary (Commercial) in the former Soviet Union (Russia).
- 1992 – 1994: After the breakup of the Soviet Union, he was deputed to open a new Indian Embassy in Ukraine. He served as Head of the Political and Administration Wings at the Indian Embassy in Kyiv.
- 1994 – March 1997: Served as Officer on Special Duty (Press Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, responsible for liaison with foreign media in India.
Early Life and Education
Taranjit Singh Sandhu was born on January 23, 1963. He completed his schooling at The Lawrence School, Sanawar.
He graduated with Honours in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and later earned a Master’s degree in International Relations from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
Personal Life
Sandhu is married to Reenat Sandhu, who serves as the Ambassador of India to Italy. The couple has two children.
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