India on Thursday announced the appointment of Dinesh K.Patnaik as the new high commissioner to Canada. The senior IFS officer is currently serving as India's ambassador to Spain.
In a brief statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "Dinesh K. Patnaik, presently Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Canada. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly."
Dinesh K. Patnaik (IFS:1990), presently Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Canada.@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/yjzxYUdSNF
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 28, 2025
A seasoned diplomat, the 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service officer has over 25 years of experience in assignments within India and abroad. Patnaik has served in the missions in Geneva, Dhaka, Beijing, and Vienna, and in the divisions focusing on Africa, Europe (West), the UN, and external publicity in the external affairs ministry, the Hindustan Times reported.
Patnaik has also served as director-general of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The senior diplomat has also served as ambassador in Cambodia and Morocco. Patnaik has also served in the UK as deputy high commissioner between 2016 and 2018. In the UK, the senior diplomat was required to handle the Khalistan problem within the Indian diaspora, and a similar challenge awaits the diplomat in Canada.
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The appointment of an Indian high commissioner to Canada comes almost nine months after India recalled its former envoy over strain in India-Canada ties. While India has been demanding strong action by Canada against pro-Khalistani forces in the country, Ottawa accused India of being involved in the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India denied the charges.
Former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau also alleged then Indian envoy was a 'person of interest' in a criminal case. India recalled its envoy following the accusation. However, ties between both nations improved following talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.
