New Delhi, India – India on Thursday appointed Shri Dinesh K. Patnaik as the next High Commissioner of India to Canada, nearly nine months after New Delhi recalled its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other senior diplomats from Ottawa amid a diplomatic row.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the appointment in a statement: “Shri Dinesh K. Patnaik (IFS:1990), presently Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Canada. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.”
Background: Diplomatic Strain
In October 2024, India recalled High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma following tensions triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement in Parliament alleging “credible allegations” of India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The accusations led to a major diplomatic row, with Canada labeling India’s High Commissioner and other diplomats as “persons of interest” in its investigation.
India strongly rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated,” accusing Ottawa of providing space to extremist and anti-India groups. The MEA conveyed that it had “no faith in the Canadian Government’s commitment” to ensure the security of Indian diplomats and reserved the right to take further steps in response. The diplomatic strain was further compounded by Khalistani extremists in Canada openly targeting Hindus and their places of worship, prompting strong remarks from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the Trudeau government’s leniency toward such groups.
Signs of Recovery
Relations began to show signs of improvement after Mark Carney assumed office as Canadian Prime Minister. In June 2025, Carney invited PM Modi to the G7 Outreach Summit in Kananaskis, where both leaders held a pivotal bilateral meeting. The June 18 meeting was described as “very positive and constructive” by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Both leaders agreed to restore High Commissioners at the earliest opportunity as a first step toward normalizing ties. “They agreed to take calibrated steps to restore stability to this very important relationship, and the first of these steps was to restore High Commissioners to each other’s capitals. Other diplomatic steps will follow in due course,” Misri said.
About Shri Dinesh K. Patnaik
A senior diplomat with decades of experience, Shri Patnaik has served in key Indian missions abroad and held important assignments in the MEA, including roles in cultural diplomacy, economic cooperation, and strategic affairs. His appointment comes at a crucial time for India–Canada relations and is expected to focus on strengthening political, economic, and diaspora engagements.
India and Canada share strong ties rooted in people-to-people connections, trade, education, and technology partnerships. Over 1.6 million persons of Indian origin and a large student community in Canada make the bilateral relationship strategically and culturally significant.
Shri Patnaik is expected to take charge of his new assignment shortly.
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