India appointed Sudhakar Dalela as its next ambassador to Nepal ahead of Prime Minister Balen Shah's expected visit in November. Dalela, a 1993-batch officer, brings deep experience in regional ties to Kathmandu. He will succeed Naveen Srivastava, who held the post since June 2022, to manage key bilateral infrastructure projects.

Sudhakar Dalela has handled Nepal and Bhutan ties twice in the ministry's Northern Division: as Director (North) in 2006-2007 and Joint Secretary (North) from 2016 to 2019. He then served as India's ambassador to Bhutan from 2022 to 2025.

India has appointed Sudhakar Dalela as its next ambassador to Nepal ahead of Prime Minister Balen Shah's expected India visit in November, bringing a diplomat experienced in Nepal ties to Kathmandu.

Dalela, a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs. He will succeed Naveen Srivastava, who has held the post since June 2022.

His appointment comes as the two countries prepare for talks expected to cover infrastructure projects, border disputes and reconstruction after Nepal's devastating August floods.

BALEN SHAH'S FIRST BILATERAL VISIT

Shah is preparing for a three-day visit in the third or fourth week of November, The Kathmandu Post reported. It would be his first official bilateral trip abroad since taking office in March.

The preparations follow Shah's initial reluctance to engage with foreign diplomats, including those from India and China. They also come after India sent relief supplies and rescue specialists to Nepal following the August floods.

India has traditionally been the first foreign destination for Nepal's prime ministers, though there have been exceptions.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda visited China in 2008. Jhalanath Khanal travelled to Turkey for a UN meeting in 2011, while Sher Bahadur Deuba went to Britain for COP26 in 2021. Both were multilateral engagements.

KP Sharma Oli chose China for his first foreign visit after returning to power in 2024, departing from his decision to visit India first during an earlier term.

A FAMILIAR HAND ON NEPAL

Dalela has handled Nepal and Bhutan ties twice in the ministry's Northern Division: as Director (North) in 2006-2007 and Joint Secretary (North) from 2016 to 2019. He then served as India's ambassador to Bhutan from 2022 to 2025.

As a director in the Prime Minister's Office between 2009 and 2011, he worked on engagement with South Asian neighbours, among other regions.

His Kathmandu assignment will draw on that experience as India engages Shah's government on pending disputes and bilateral projects.

EXPERIENCE BEYOND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Dalela took over as Secretary (Economic Relations) on September 1, 2025. His portfolio covers economic diplomacy, development partnerships with the Global South, Africa, multilateral economic relations and emerging strategic technologies.

Moreover, he is also India's Sherpa for BRICS, IBSA and I2U2, three major multilateral groupings for India.

He has served as Director (Trade Policy) in the Department of Commerce and twice at India's Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, including as Deputy Permanent Representative from 2014 to 2016.

Dalela began his diplomatic career in Tel Aviv and has held postings in Brasilia, Dhaka, Chicago and Washington. His US assignments include Consul General in Chicago, Minister for Political Affairs in Washington from 2011 to 2014, and Deputy Chief of Mission from 2020 to 2022.