Vikas Swarup, a 1986-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, on Saturday took charge as the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Swarup takes over from Syed Akbaruddin, who will assume charge as the Chief Coordinator of India-Africa Forum Summit from April 20.
Swarup made headlines for writing his book 'Q and A', which was later turned into the smash-hit Slumdog Millionaire.