Who among the following is the first woman to lead the Indian High Commission in Islamabad after independence?

Correct option is B

​The correct answer is (b) Geetika Srivastava

Explanation:

• Geetika Srivastava, a 2005-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, became the first woman to lead the Indian diplomatic mission in Pakistan since India's independence in 1947.
• Appointed as the Charge d'Affaires at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad in August 2023, she succeeded Dr. M. Suresh Kumar. ​
• In the absence of a High Commissioner, the Charge d'Affaires serves as the acting head of the mission. Since 2019, following Pakistan's decision to downgrade diplomatic ties with India, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has been led by a Charge d'Affaires.

Information Booster:

High Commissioner :

• A High Commissioner is the senior-most diplomatic representative appointed by one Commonwealth country to another.
• The role is equivalent to that of an ambassador, but the term "High Commissioner" is used specifically within the Commonwealth of Nations.
• ​India sends High Commissioners to countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and South Africa.
• The responsibilities of a High Commissioner are similar to those of an Ambassador.

Commonwealth of Nations – Brief Overview

The Commonwealth of Nations is a political association of 56 member countries, most of which are former territories of the British Empire. It was established to promote peace, democracy, development, and cooperation among member nations.

• Founded: 1931 (formally structured with the London Declaration, 1949)

• Head: The British Monarch (currently King Charles III)

• Secretariat HQ: London, United Kingdom

• Key Principle: Equal partnership among sovereign states, regardless of size or wealth