Prior to taking over as foreign secretary, Singh served as ambassador of India to Germany (2012-2013) and high commissioner to Australia (2007-2012).
Singh was an undersecretary looking after Nepal from 1982-1985 before her postings in Italy and France in Europe.[break]
An approval of her appointment was made by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month after much speculation on who will head the foreign services.
Singh, who is 59-year-old and a 1976 batch Indian Foreign Services officer, was a close contender for the top job along with India´s ambassador to China S Jaishankar.
His name was doing the rounds because of his excellent service record particularly as envoy to China. Finally, PM Singh had decided on Singh on the basis of seniority.
Due to retire in July next year, Singh will now get a two-year extension. Mathai, on the other hand, may head to London as India´s next high commissioner.
Singh, who will be the third woman to head the services after Chokila Iyer and Nirupama Rao, is the daughter of T V Rajeshwar, the former Intelligence chief known to be close to the top brass of the Congress.
Singh is the wife of former secretary (east) Sanjay Singh, who retired in April this year.
She started her overseas assignments as second secretary in the Embassy of India, Bonn (1978-82). Singh completed her BA Honors in Economics in 1973 from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, and her MA in Economics in 1975 from the Delhi School of Economics.
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