The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced the appointment of Dinesh K Patnaik as the next High Commissioner of India to Canada. Patnaik, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), takes on this role at a crucial juncture in the relationship between India and Canada.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained since September 2023. At that time, then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India’s involvement in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen whom India had labeled a Khalistani terrorist. India strongly denied the accusation.
The diplomatic rift deepened when Ottawa expelled several Indian diplomats, including then High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, prompting a reciprocal response from India.
Patnaik’s academic background includes a degree from Delhi University (1988), an MBA from IIM Calcutta, and a Master’s in International Relations from Vienna.
Over his career, Patnaik has undertaken various important assignments in India and abroad. He has served in Geneva, Dhaka, Beijing, and Vienna, among other foreign postings. His experience within the MEA includes work in departments focused on Africa, Western Europe, the UN, and external publicity. He also served as India’s Ambassador to Cambodia and Morocco, in addition to his current post in Spain.