Siddharth Babu, a 36‑year‑old Indian Foreign Service officer who secured the 15th rank in the 2017 UPSC Civil Services Examination, has emerged as the fourth figure in the iconic Modi‑Xi‑Putin BRICS summit photograph. His journey from engineering to diplomacy, including a four‑year stint in China and advanced language training, underscores India's growing influence on the global stage.

  • Siddharth Babu ranked 15th in the 2017 UPSC exam.
  • He spent four years in China, mastering Mandarin and diplomatic skills.
  • His appearance in the Modi‑Xi‑Putin photo highlights India's diplomatic reach.

Siddharth Babu is a 36‑year‑old Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer who entered the service after securing the 15th rank in the highly competitive 2017 UPSC Civil Services Examination. His story exemplifies dedication and the evolving face of Indian diplomacy.

Hailing from Kaloor in Kochi, Kerala, Babu attended Nava Nirman Senior Secondary School and later completed his BTech in mechanical engineering at Mar Athanasius College of Engineering in 2012. After a brief stint in e‑commerce, he shifted gears to prepare for the civil services, choosing history and political science as his subjects.

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In 2017, at the age of 26, he cleared the exam with an All‑India Rank of 15 and opted for the Indian Foreign Service. During his training, he studied Mandarin, a compulsory foreign language for all IFS officers, and was posted in Beijing from 2018 to 2022. Even amid the COVID‑19 lockdowns, he used the time to deepen his understanding of China’s history, politics, and economy.

He further earned a Master’s in Translation and Interpretation (English‑to‑Chinese and Chinese‑to‑English) from the Middlebury Institute for International Studies in 2024. In 2024, he joined the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi as an Under‑Secretary and is now a Deputy Secretary in the East Asia division, overseeing relations with China, Japan, South and North Korea.

Why This Matters

Having a young, highly‑qualified officer like Babu visible in a high‑profile image with global leaders signals India’s growing diplomatic clout. It showcases the effectiveness of India’s rigorous selection process and the importance of multilingual capabilities in international affairs.

"Siddharth Babu’s career trajectory proves that dedication and language proficiency can propel a young Indian into a pivotal role on the world stage."
Did You Know?: Indian Foreign Service officers are required to learn at least one foreign language, with Mandarin often chosen for its strategic importance in relations with China.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why was Siddharth Babu included in the Modi‑Xi‑Putin photo?
He works in the East Asia division of the Ministry of External Affairs and often participates in high‑level diplomatic events.

2. What does a 15th rank in the UPSC signify?
It places an aspirant among the top 20 candidates nationwide in one of India’s most competitive examinations.