Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (ER), MEA

Mr. Sudhakar Dalela joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1993. He began his diplomatic career in Tel Aviv, Israel. He has since served in Indian Missions in Brasilia, Chicago, Dhaka, Geneva, Thimphu, Washington D.C. Most recently, he served as the Ambassador of India to Bhutan (2022-2025).

Mr. Dalela has served in critical roles in New Delhi, including Director in the Prime Minister’s Office (2009-2011), focusing on India's engagement with its South Asian neighbours, East Asia, and countries in the Indo-Pacific region, Gulf, Middle East, Africa. He has served as Director (North) (2006-2007) and subsequently as Joint Secretary (North) in the Ministry of External Affairs (2016-2019), overseeing India’s relations with Bhutan and Nepal.

He brings a wealth of experience in trade and economic policy to his role, having served in the Department of Commerce in New Delhi as Director (Trade Policy) and twice at the Permanent Mission of India to the WTO, including as India's Deputy Permanent Representative from 2014-2016.

Mr. Dalela has served in the United States in different capacities: as India’s Consul General in Chicago; as Minister for Political Affairs (2011-2014), and as the Deputy Chief of Mission (2020-2022) at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C..

He has assumed responsibilities as Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry on 1 September 2025. In his current capacity, he handles India’s economic diplomacy; development partnership with countries in the Global South; partnership with Africa; multilateral economic relations; and new and emerging strategic technologies. He is India’s Sherpa for BRICS, IBSA, and I2U2.

Before joining the Indian Foreign Service, Mr. Dalela earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering. He is married to Namrata, who is a textile conservator, and they have a daughter, Aditi, and son, Anant.