Vikas Swarup, joint secretary (UN-Political) in the ministry of external affairs, is set to take over as the next spokesperson, replacing Syed Akbaruddin who has been named the pointsperson for the India Africa Forum Summit to be held in October.
Swarup, who shot to fame with his book "Q&A" which was adapted into an Oscar-winning Hollywood film "Slumdog Millionaire", is expected to take charge in April after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's return from his official visit to France, Germany and Canada.
The 1986 batch Indian Foreign Service officer has also penned other popular novels like "Six Suspects" and "The Accidental Apprentice" besides "Q&A" which has been translated into 43 languages.
Akbaruddin, a 1985 batch IFS officer, has been named the chief coordinator for the October 26-30 India Africa Forum Summit which is being seen as one of India's most significant diplomatic events at home this year. He is also due to be promoted as additional secretary.
India is inviting all the 54 countries of the African Union for the first time to the Summit.