The Indian government has announced the appointment of Dinesh K Patnaik, a seasoned diplomat and 1990-batch IFS officer, as the new High Commissioner to Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs made the announcement. This appointment occurs amidst a complex period for Indo-Canadian relations.
The relationship between the two nations has been strained since September 2023, when then-Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau implicated New Delhi in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen labeled as a Khalistani terrorist by India. India vehemently denied these allegations, which led to a sharp decline in diplomatic ties.
This situation was further complicated by Canada’s expulsion of Indian diplomats, including the then High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, which resulted in retaliatory measures from India.
Patnaik’s educational background includes a 1988 degree from Delhi University, an MBA from IIM Calcutta, and a Master’s in International Relations from Vienna.
Over his extensive career, Patnaik has served in various important roles in India and internationally. His foreign postings have included Geneva, Dhaka, Beijing, and Vienna, and within the MEA, he has worked in departments related to Africa, Western Europe, the UN, and external publicity. He has previously served as India’s Ambassador to Spain, Cambodia, and Morocco.