Dr. B. Bala Bhaskar has over 38 years of experience as an engineer, economist, and diplomat. He is widely regarded as an effective diplomat, skilled negotiator, strategic thinker, policy expert, author, and conflict-resolution specialist. He has handled India’s diplomatic relations with more than 70 countries, including the United States and China, and is among the few diplomats with over 15 years of experience in the Middle East. He is also an expert in geopolitics and rare-earth minerals.

He retired as India’s Ambassador to Norway and is currently Professor at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. A prolific writer, Dr. Bhaskar is a regular columnist for leading newspapers. He holds a B.Tech. from NIT Warangal and a PhD in Economics. After joining the Indian Foreign Service in 1993, he served in several challenging assignments.

He was posted in China and the United States as Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission during critical phases in bilateral relations. Dr. Bhaskar played a key role in resolving India–China border tensions in May 2013 and September 2014, while also advancing trade and investment ties. He was part of the negotiating team for the India–Thailand Free Trade Agreement. He went on a special mission to Iraq when ISIS captured Mosul in 2015.

As Joint Secretary (West Asia & North Africa) from 2016 to 2019, Dr. Bhaskar played a significant role in shaping India’s foreign policy towards West Asia and the Gulf. As Ambassador to Norway, Dr. bhaskar was instrumental in developing India’s Arctic policy, establishing a permanent research station in the Arctic, and securing ISRO’s antenna in Svalbard, critical for monitoring climate change. An accomplished economist, he has deep expertise in the Indian economy, global trade, energy dynamics and infrastructural challenges. He has delivered lectures at leading institutions worldwide and is the author of Energy Security and Economic Development in India (TERI, 2012), a pioneering work in the field published by TERI.