
Jayant Khobragade appointed as next Ambassador of India to Spain
Khobragade is currently serving as the Ambassador of India to ASEAN, is expected to assume his new role in Spain shortly, according to an official statement from the MEA.
'Shri Jayant Khobragade (IFS: 1995), presently Ambassador of India to ASEAN, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Spain. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly,' the statement read.
He will be replaced by Srinivas Gotru of IFS batch of 1997 who's appointed as the next Ambassador of India to ASEAN was announced by the MEA back in January.
Gotru was serving as the Joint Secretary in the MEA.
India and Spain have maintained cordial relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1956. Notable milestones include Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Spain in May 2017 and regular engagements between leaders on the sidelines of global summits, including the G20 in 2018 and 2021. In February 2023, a phone call between the prime ministers reiterated confidence in the growing relationship between the two nations.
Additionally, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has consistently engaged with Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares during events like the UNGA sessions in 2022 and 2024.
Bilateral ties have expanded beyond politics to include cultural and educational collaborations. In 2023, the University of Valladolid signed two MoUs with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to establish chairs in Hindi Language and Indian Studies.
Further strengthening academic relations, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) signed an MoU in July 2024 to foster higher education partnerships.
The Indian diaspora in Spain, numbering approximately 75,000, primarily resides in Catalonia, Valencia, Madrid, and the Canary Islands. In response to growing consular service demands, the Consulate General of India was inaugurated in Barcelona on August 13, 2024, marking another step in enhancing India-Spain relations. (ANI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
26 minutes ago
- First Post
Watch: PM Modi embarks on 4-day visit to UK, Maldives; trade, defence ties in focus
PM Modi's trips aim to boost trade and defence ties, with a major highlight being the anticipated signing of a landmark India-UK free trade agreement read more Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (July 23) departed for a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives. In the first leg of the visit, the PM will visit the UK from July 23 to 24. From there, he will fly to the Maldives before concluding his four-day trip. #WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs for a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and Maldives. PM Modi will pay an official visit to the United Kingdom from 23 – 24 July. In the second leg of his visit, PM will undertake a State Visit to Maldives from July… — ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PM Modi's trips aim to boost trade and defence ties, with a major highlight being the anticipated signing of a landmark India-UK free trade agreement during his London visit. The foreign tour comes amidst the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, which started on July 21. In the Maldives, the PM will be the guest of honour at the nation's Independence Day celebrations. In the UK, he's scheduled for in-depth discussions with Starmer and a meeting with King Charles III on July 23-24. This marks PM Modi's fourth UK visit since taking office. On Thursday (July 24), Starmer will host Modi at Chequers, the British prime minister's countryside retreat, about 50 km northwest of London. According to sources cited by news agency PTI, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his UK counterpart Jonathan Reynolds are expected to finalise the free trade agreement in the presence of both leaders. (More to follow)
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
26 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India to resume tourist visas to Chinese nationals from July 24 after 5 yrs
India will start issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals from July 24 after halting them for five years, Reuters reported, citing the Indian Embassy in China. The development marks a shift in the strained ties between the two countries, which are aiming to improve ties and ease tensions after Galwan clashes in 2020. Chinese media Global Times shared the post made by the Indian Embassy in China on Weibo. Sharing the post on X, it said, "The Embassy of India in China announced via its Sina Weibo account on Wednesday that, starting from July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment, and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to the Indian Visa Application Centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, in South China's Guangdong Province." It further added, "This marks the first time since the suspension in 2020 that India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens after a five-year hiatus, according to media reports." India suspends visas for Chinese nationals In 2020, India suspended all tourist visas for Chinese nationals in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. In April 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a notice, stating that all tourist visas to Chinese nationals will no longer be valid. The move came in retaliation after China limited the re-entry of as many as 22,000 Indian students in the country after the Covid-19 pandemic. Breakthrough in India-China ties Earlier in March this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted positive developments in India-China relations. He added that both countries have made positive strides in their bilateral ties and achieved encouraging outcomes. Yi emphasised the need for a cooperative partnership between the dragon (China) and the elephant (India). He stated, "China believes that as the largest neighbors, both countries should be partners in each other's success." He attributed the positive developments between the two countries to a successful meeting held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Kazan, Russia.


News18
38 minutes ago
- News18
The Reluctant Exit Of A Constitutional Nationalist
Last Updated: Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation may be effective immediately, but the echo of his voice in rulings and sharp interventions will remain in Parliament's conscience for years to come The sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, citing health reasons, marks the end of a short but influential chapter in Indian constitutional life. At 74, Dhankhar has stepped down midway through his six-year tenure, joining the ranks of only two other vice presidents, VV Giri and R Venkataraman, who resigned before completing their terms, albeit for different reasons. But unlike his predecessors who left to assume the higher office of the president, Dhankhar's exit is one of necessity, not political ambition. It is a moment of reflection for the Indian polity, especially for those who value articulation, constitutional clarity, and nationalist conviction in the upper echelons of public life. Jagdeep Dhankhar's career arc has been anything but conventional. A lawyer by training and a farmer's son by identity, his rise through the political ranks was not driven by dynastic entitlement or ideological posturing. His greatest visibility came not during his years in Parliament or Cabinet, but as Governor of West Bengal. It was there, in the volatile political landscape of Bengal, that Dhankhar found his voice as a constitutional sentinel, one not afraid to call out the excesses of Mamata Banerjee's regime. Where many governors chose silence or discretion in dealing with regional satraps, Dhankhar spoke with legal precision and unapologetic nationalism. His insistence on constitutional accountability rattled the state government and often set the tone for the national debate. 'kisan putra" with deep knowledge of the Constitution and legislative procedure. It was no mere ceremonial endorsement. In a house that often witnesses theatrical opposition and walkouts, Dhankhar brought a lawyer's rigour and a patriot's candour. His ability to maintain order, invoke constitutional provisions with ease, and push back gently but firmly against unruly conduct made him a chairman who did more than wield the gavel. He wielded moral authority. In many ways, Dhankhar's presence was the ideological complement to the BJP-led government's legislative agenda. Not in the sense of partisanship, he remained constitutionally non-aligned in his conduct, but in his understanding of India's civilisational values and constitutional ethos. When the Opposition accused the government of undermining institutions, it was Dhankhar who reminded them often with surgical clarity of constitutional roles and responsibilities. He was not afraid to confront the 'constitutional illiteracy" of some members of Parliament and frequently used the Rajya Sabha pulpit to educate, not just adjudicate. What sets Dhankhar apart is that he was never a mere bureaucratic custodian of his office. He was an institution in motion, a living embodiment of the Constitution's intent to have checks and balances enforced with wisdom and resolve. Whether it was upholding parliamentary decorum or questioning judicial overreach, he spoke with an intellectual sharpness that kept both Houses of Parliament and courtrooms on their toes. He famously said that the 'basic structure doctrine" must evolve through discussion, not dogma, provoking necessary conversations about the limits of judicial supremacy. His resignation letter, while graceful and full of gratitude, conceals the weight of disappointment many constitutionalists and nationalist thinkers will now carry. The timing, too, is poignant. That Dhankhar administered oaths to new Rajya Sabha members earlier in the day, only to step down hours later, shows the deep sense of duty with which he served till the very end. It was not a quiet exit, but a dignified one. It is important to note that his resignation comes amidst recurring health issues, including a recent cardiac episode and a public fainting spell. This reminds us that even the most committed public servants are human and vulnerable. Prioritising health is not weakness; it is wisdom. Still, one cannot help but sense that his resignation has left unfinished the mission he seemed destined to carry forward: to redefine the role of vice president from being ornamental to being meaningfully constitutional. In an age where identity politics dominates the discourse and shouting matches often substitute for debate, Jagdeep Dhankhar brought to public life a rare blend of clarity, conviction, and constitutional rectitude. He never wore nationalism like a badge for electoral optics; it was embedded in his vocabulary, his decisions, and his worldview. He spoke not for votes but for values. For that alone, he will be missed. As India looks to find a successor, the bar he has set will be a difficult one to reach. The next vice president will inherit not just an office, but a legacy, one of fearless constitutional articulation, deep respect for India's civilisational heritage, and a refusal to bow before political expediency. In Jagdeep Dhankhar, the country saw a vice president who was more than a chairperson of the Upper House. It saw a guardian of the Constitution, a sentinel of propriety, and above all, a nationalist who believed that the rule of law is the bedrock of Bharat's destiny. His resignation may be effective immediately, but the echo of his voice in speeches, rulings, and sharp interventions will remain in Parliament's conscience for years to come. The writer is a technocrat, political analyst, and author. He pens national, geopolitical, and social issues. His social media handle is @prosenjitnth. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. About the Author Prosenjit Nath The writer is an Indian technocrat, political analyst, and author. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.