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Gopal Baglay (IFS) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth4 January 1966

Age57 Years

BirthplaceMathura, Uttar Pradesh, India

ProfessionIndian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseBina Baglay

Gopal Baglay (IFS) Biography

Gopal Baglay is a career Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1992 batch who has served in senior diplomatic and policy roles for the Ministry of Exter­

Early life and background

Gopal Baglay was born on 4 January 1966 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, and grew up partly in Lucknow, where he completed his school and university education. He attended City Montessori School in Lucknow and later studied at Lucknow University, earning an MSc (Special) in Chemistry. After finishing his studies he sat the UPSC civil services examination, joined the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for foundational training, and subsequently entered the Indian Foreign Service in the 1992 batch.

Career

Baglay’s diplomatic career spans postings at Indian missions abroad and key positions within the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi. Early overseas assignments included Third Secretary at the Embassy of India in Kyiv (1994–1996) and Second Secretary at the Embassy of India in Moscow (1996–1999). He also served in London as Special Assistant to the High Commissioner and First Secretary (Economic) from 1999 to 2002.

Back at the MEA, Baglay held several desk and director-level roles covering Central Europe and United Nations economic and social matters between 2002 and 2005. He was counsellor for press, information and culture at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu from 2005 to 2008, and later held director-level responsibilities at the MEA including external publicity and the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran brief (2008–2010). He then served as Director in the External Affairs Minister’s Office (2010–2011).

From 2011 to 2014 Baglay was Deputy High Commissioner at the High Commission of India in Islamabad. He returned to New Delhi as Joint Secretary (States) from October 2014 to December 2015 and continued as Joint Secretary at the MEA until February 2017. In early 2017 he was appointed the Official Spokesperson of the MEA, a role he occupied from February to July 2017.

In July 2017 Baglay moved to the Prime Minister’s Office as Joint Secretary, a position he held until May 2020. In May 2020 he took up the post of High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, serving during a period of political and economic difficulty in that country and taking part in efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and facilitate economic assistance arrangements. In September 2023 he was appointed Ambassador (High Commissioner) of India to Australia, succeeding the previous incumbent.

Public profile

Throughout his career Baglay has worked on a range of geographic and thematic files, including India’s engagement with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. He has experience in external publicity and in managing relations with multilateral economic and social bodies. Known to have completed foreign-service training at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service in New Delhi, he is also reported to be multilingual, with proficiency in Hindi, English, Urdu, Nepali, Russian and Ukrainian.

Personal life

Baglay is married to Bina Baglay. He lists reading and travel among his interests. Physically, the available profile notes he is approximately 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) tall and has dark brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. He is an Indian national and identifies with the Hindu faith.

Latest updates

In September 2023 the Ministry of External Affairs announced Baglay’s appointment as India’s Ambassador (High Commissioner) to Australia, following his tenure as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka that began in May 2020. He continues to serve in the Indian Foreign Service, a career he began after joining the 1992 batch.
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Recent Work

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka

Served as India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, May 2020 - September 2023; engaged in strengthening bilateral ties and facilitating economic assistance arrangements.

2020-2023
Ambassador of India to Australia

Appointed as India’s Ambassador (High Commissioner) to Australia in September 2023; currently serving in this role.

2023-present
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Career Highlights

  1. Joined Indian Foreign Service, 1992 batch
  2. Third Secretary, Embassy of India, Kyiv (1994–1996)
  3. Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Moscow (1996–1999)
  4. Special Assistant to High Commissioner, London; First Secretary (Economic) (1999–2002)
  5. Counsellor, Embassy of India, Kathmandu (2005–2008)
  6. Deputy High Commissioner, High Commission of India, Islamabad (2011–2014)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gopal Baglay (IFS) born?

4 January 1966

What is Gopal Baglay (IFS) known for?

Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer

What is Gopal Baglay (IFS)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Gopal Baglay (IFS) married to?

Bina Baglay