Power Play: Vijay Latha Reddy appointed as Deputy National Security Adviser

Vijay Latha Reddy, a 1975 batch Indian Foreign Service officer has been appointed as Deputy National Security Adviser. Ms Reddy, who is currently secretary (East) in the ministry of external affairs will have a two-year term as Deputy NSA initially on deputation basis till her retirement on April 2011 and thereafter, on re-employment on a contract basis, according to the approval letter by Appointments Committee of Cabinet dated February 17, 2011.

Known to be a tough officer, Ms Reddy will now help National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon, a 1972 batch retired IFS officer, in key internal and external security matters.

Significantly, it was an IAS, not an IFS officer who was appointed as the first Deputy NSA when the post was created in July 2007. Shekhar Dutt, a 1969 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS, became the first Deputy NSA on a two-year term after his retirement on July 31, 2007. Former Intelligence Bureau chief and IPS MK Narayanan was the National Security Advisor then.

For the record, NSA of India is a member of the National Security Council, and the primary advisor to the Prime Minister on all matters relating to internal and external threats to the country. Brijesh Mishra was the first NSA appointed during Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime.

Sanjay Singh, a 1976 batch IFS officer and presently ambassador in Tehran has been appointed as secretary (east) at the headquarters of the ministry of external affairs in place of Ms Vijay Latha Reddy.

(In picture: Vijaya Latha Reddy with Amre Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States during her visit to Egypt in August, 2010)