Who is IFS officer Sidharth Babu in viral Modi-Putin-Xi photo?
Indian Foreign Service officer Sidharth Babu gained social media attention after being spotted in a viral photo with world leaders at the BRICS summit. The article details his background, including his transition from mechanical engineering to diplomacy and his specialized experience in China.
Why it matters
It highlights the role of behind-the-scenes diplomatic staff in high-stakes international summits and provides a human-interest profile of a career civil servant.
A photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit has drawn widespread attention. But while the three leaders naturally became the focus of the frame, social media users were quick to notice another face- a young Indian official standing just behind them, watching the exchange with a smile.The man is Sidharth Babu, a 36-year-old Indian Foreign Service officer.According to India Today, Babu was helping Prime Minister Modi follow Xi Jinping's remarks during the interaction. He is currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the East Asia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, a role that makes his knowledge of China and the Chinese language particularly relevant.From mechanical engineering to diplomacyBabu's career did not begin in diplomacy. Originally from Kochi, Kerala, he completed a degree in mechanical engineering from Mar Athanasius College of Engineering in 2012.
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