3 MoS in external affairs ministry to help strengthen global outreach

The external affairs ministry, which has traditionally functioned with two ministers of state (MoS), now has three MoS, with the induction of Meenakshi Lekhi and Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, to cater to India’s growing profile and global outreach.

While MoS V Muraleedharan has been part of several engagements with Southeast Asia, Africa and South America, the two new MoS are expected to engage other geographical regions as India finds itself at almost all global high tables.

“Delighted to welcome Meenakshi Lekhi and Rajkumar Ranjan Singh to Team MEA. Confident that together, we will promote India’s interest abroad effectively,” external affairs minister S Jaishankar tweeted while on a trip to Moscow.


Lekhi, 54, who represents New Delhi in the Lok Sabha, is a law graduate and has been an important member of the BJP who has not only served as the party spokesperson, defending the party’s policies and programmes, but also served as a lawyer on the permanent commission for women officers in the armed forces.

She was appointed vice-president of the BJP's Mahila Morcha in 2010.