Meet the Malayali IFS officer who became PM Modi’s voice and ears with global leaders

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi concluded on Sunday (September 13), yet an Indian Foreign Service officer from Kerala remains a prominent face across national media.

Standing behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi during bilateral exchanges with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, 36-year-old Sidharth Babu assisted the Prime Minister in following President Xi's remarks. A viral photograph of the three world leaders holding hands captured the Kochi-born diplomat smiling in the background, prompting widespread attention.

Babu currently serves as Deputy Secretary in the East Asia Division at the Ministry of External Affairs, managing diplomatic relations with China, Japan, North Korea, and South Korea. Alongside his division duties, he steps in to interpret and translate during foreign engagements.

From Kochi to global diplomacy

Hailing from Kaloor in Ernakulam district, Babu completed his schooling at Nava Nirman Senior Secondary School and Bhavan’s Adarsha Vidyalaya. He subsequently earned a BTech degree in mechanical engineering from Mar Athanasius College of Engineering in Kothamangalam in 2012. After working for an e-commerce firm for over two years, he resigned to prepare for the Civil Services Examination.

His interest in international relations developed through cold war films and the television programme India’s World, leading him to consult journalist Bharath Bhushan and retired diplomats. After missing out on his first attempt, Babu modified his preparation strategy by dissecting question patterns. In 2017, he secured All India Rank 15 on his second attempt and chose the foreign service.

Mandarin mastery and summit diplomacy

Entering the service in December 2017, Babu selected Mandarin as his mandatory foreign language. He served in Beijing from 2018 to 2022 as Third Secretary and Second Secretary, studying Chinese politics and language during pandemic lockdowns. He later served as Consul in California while earning a master’s degree in language interpretation and translation at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

After returning to New Delhi in 2024, Babu was appointed Deputy Secretary in January 2025. He previously interpreted for Prime Minister Modi during interactions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the 77th Republic Day celebrations in January 2026.