New Delhi: A 1981 batch IFS officer and former ambassador to China, Vijay Gokhalehas been appointed foreign secretary.
As the ambassador in Beijing, Gokhale had played a key role in defusing the Doklam military stand-off between India and China, and in the eventual disengagement of the forces in what India considers to be Bhutanese territory.

Gokhale will replace S Jaishankar on January 28, when the latter completes 3 years as India's top diplomat. He was appointed as foreign secretary in January 2015, days ahead of his retirement.

He went on to get a year's extension after completing his tenure in January 2017. 

An MA (history) from Delhi University, Gokhale is currently working as secretary (economic relations) in MEA. Widely acknowledged as a no-nonsense and levelheaded officer, he was brought back from China last year in what was seen as a move to groom him for the top job at MEA.

Gokhale has also headed the East Asia Division of MEA and, in that capacity, dealt with all issues related to China and North Korea, apart from Japan, Mongolia and South Korea.

He has also served in Hong Kong, Hanoi and New York. He was high commissioner to Malaysia from January 2010 to October 2013, ambassador to Germany from October 2013 to January 2016, and to China from January 2016 to October 2017.