Right to Information
Right to Information Act, 2005
The Right to
Information under the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 is available to the
citizens of India only. RTI Act is an important legislation designed to promote
transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities.
The full text of the RTI Act, 2005 is available on the website: https://rti.gov.in/
The RTI Act
also provides for appeals by aggrieved persons to the Central Information
Commission of the Government of India.
Indian
citizens resident in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, People's Republic of China may
seek information in writing on payment of requisite fee during office hours on
working days as per procedure laid down in the RTI Act, 2005.
Name
& contact details of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the Consulate
General of India, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, People’s Republic of China,
designated under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act,
2005) and that of the First Appellate authority:
The PIO and the Appellate Authority would be available on working days of the
Consulate from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and can be met with prior appointment in
connection with applications under the RTI Act, 2005.
As only
Indian citizens are entitled to seek information under RTI Act, 2005, a
photocopy of applicant’s valid Indian passport showing personal particulars and
validity of the passport should be attached with the application.
INFORMATION
ABOUT THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA, HONG KONG REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 4(1)(B)
OF THE RTI ACT, 2005.
Payment of Fees
The
application requesting information under RTI Act, 2005 should be accompanied by
a receipt for payment of the application fee in Hong Kong Dollars equivalent to
the prescribed fee of Indian Rupees ten. The payment can be made at the
Accounts Section of the Consulate (16-D, United Centre, 95 Queensway,
Admiralty, Hong Kong) on working days between 9.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. by cash
or by demand draft/banker’s cheque in the name of the “Consulate General of
India, Hong Kong”. Indian Rupee should be converted into Hong Kong Dollar at
the prevailing official rate of exchange which can be ascertained from the
Accounts Section of the Consulate (Email: accts[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in).
Electronic Indian Postal
Order (eIPO)
The scheme of
Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) has been launched by the Department of
Posts, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in association
with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This would enable the Indian
citizens abroad to pay the RTI fee online.
An Indian Postal
Order can be purchased electronically by paying a fee on-line through e-Post
Office Portal or through India Post website. The web-links for payment are:
www.indiapost.gov.in
www.epostoffice.gov.in
The Credit Card or
Debit Card of any bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used for this purpose.
Procedure
The RTI applicant
is required to register on the website to create his/ her profile. Then he has
to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek information
under the RTI Act. The eIPO is generated which can be used to seek information
from that Ministry/ Department only. A printout of the eIPO is required to be
attached with the RTI application sent in hard copy. In case RTI application is
filed electronically, the eIPO is enclosed as an attachment. The profile is
required to be created during the first time only.
The RTI application
accompanied by an eIPO is similar in all respects to the RTI application
accompanied by fees through any other approved mode. All the provisions
regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc; as provided in the RTI Act,
2005 continue to apply.
Currently, this facility is
available only for Indian Citizens living anywhere other than in India. By this measure,
those living abroad would be facilitated to seek information under the RTI Act,
2005. It is hoped that in future, this facility would be extended to all
citizens within the country too. Any public authority which accepts a postal
order should also accept an eIPO.
Extension of IPO Facility to Indians
citizens residing in India
The
Department of Posts has extended the “eIPO” (electronic Indian Postal Order)
service to Indian citizens residing in India also w.e.f. 13.02.2014, for
purchasing Indian Postal Order electronically by paying a fee online through
e-Post Office Portal i.e. www.epostoffice.gov.in. It can also be
accessed through India Post website www.indiapost.gov.in
This facility has
been provided for Indian citizens to facilitate them to seek information from
the Central Public information Officers (CPIOs) under the RTI Act, 2005. Debit
or Credit Cards of any Bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used to purchase
e-IPO.
The user needs to get registered at
the website. He has to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek the
information under the RTI Act and the eIPO so generated can be used to seek the
information from that Ministry/Department only. A printout of the eIPO is
required to be attached with the RTI application. If the RTI application is
being filed electronically, eIPO is required to be attached as an attachment.
This facility is only for
purchasing an Indian Postal Order electronically. All the requirements for filling an RTI
application as well as other provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions
etc. will continue to apply.
An eIPO so generated must be used
only once with an RTI application.
Additional Fees
(a) Rupees two for each page (in A-4 or A-3 size paper) created or copied
(b) Actual charge or cost price of a copy in larger size paper
(c) Actual cost or price for samples or models
(d) For inspection of records, no fee for the first hour; and a fee of Rupees
five for each subsequent
hour (or fraction thereof).
(e) For information provided in diskette or floppy, Rupees fifty per diskette
or floppy; and
(f) For information provided in printed
form at the price fixed for such publication or Rupees two per
page of photocopy for extracts from the
publication.
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(i)
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Particulars of its
organization, functions and duties;
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Consulate General of India,
Hong Kong is headed by the Consul General and comprises the following Wings:
(i) Administration Wing (ii) Consular, Visa & Education Wing (iii)
Commerce & Passport Wing (iv) Economic Wing (v) Political, Culture &
Information Wing.
Each Wing is headed by a Consul.
The functions of the Consulate inter alia, include political and economic
cooperation, trade and investment promotion, cultural interaction, press and
media liaison in bilateral and multilateral contexts.
The Consulate functions within the purview of business allocated to the
Ministry of External Affairs under the Government of India’s Allocation of
Business Rules and Transaction of Business Rules.
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(ii)
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Powers and duties of its
officers and employees;
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General Administrative
powers are derived from IFS (PLCA) Rules, as amended from time to time.
Financial powers of the Officers of the Consulate have been detailed in the
Delegated Financial Powers of the Government of India’s Representatives
Abroad.
Other powers are derived from the Passport Act of India.
The Officers of the Consulate function under the guidance and supervision of
the Consul General.
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(iii)
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Procedure followed in the
decision making process, including channels of supervision and
accountability;
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Decisions are taken under
the instruction and supervision of the Consul General.
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(iv)
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Norms set by it for the
discharge of its functions;
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Norms are set under the
instruction and supervision of the Consul General.
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(v)
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Rules, regulations,
instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by
its employees for discharging its functions;
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IFS PLCA Rules and its
annexures
Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India’s Representatives Abroad
Passport Act
Manuals on Office Procedures
Other Central Government Rules and Manuals published by Central Government.
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(vi)
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Statement of the categories
of documents that are held by it or under its control;
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Classified documents/files
relating to India’s external relations.
Unclassified documents/files including joint statements, declarations,
agreements and MoUs.
Passport, visa and consular services application forms
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(vii)
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Particulars of any
arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the
members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or
implementation thereof;
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Consulate General of India
functions within the norms of India’s foreign policy formulated by the
Ministry of External Affairs. Policy is implemented by the Consulate under
the guidance and supervision of the Consul General.
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(viii)
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Statement of the boards,
councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons
constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether
meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to
the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public;
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Consulate interacts
regularly with representatives of think tanks, academic community and others.
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(ix)
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Directory of its officers
and employees;
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A directory is given at
Annexure-I (See below)
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(x)
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Monthly remuneration
received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of
compensation as provided in its regulations;
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A statement of monthly
remuneration is at
Annexure-II (See below)
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(xi)
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Budget allocated to each of
its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures
and reports on disbursements made;
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The Budget figures for the
current financial year are given in the statement at Annexure-III (See below)
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(xii)
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Manner of execution of
subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of
beneficiaries of such programmes;
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The Consulate does not have
any subsidy programme.
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(xiii)
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Particulars of recipients
of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it;
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No concessions/permits are
granted by the Consulate General of India.
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(xiv)
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Details in respect of the
information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;
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The Consulate’s website has
the required information. The Consulate also makes available to interested
individuals various CD’s and DVD’s containing information on India, its
people and culture.
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(xv)
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Particulars of facilities
available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours
of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use;
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Citizens of India can
obtain information through the website of the Consulate and they can also
access the Consulate’s library during working hours.
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(xvi)
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Names, designations and
other particulars of the Public Information Officers;
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Mr. Arvind Kumar Verma
Tel No. +852-39709930 (O)
Fax No. +852-25290421 (Fax)
Email: culture[dot]hongkong[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in
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(xvii)
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Such other information as
may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year;
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The Consulate’s website has
information which is updated on a regular basis
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Annexure I
Telephone List of Officers
Annexure II
Monthly Remuneration of
India-based Officers and Employees
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Sl.No.
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Post
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No.
of Posts
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Level
as per the 7th CPC
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1.
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Consul
General
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1
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14
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2.
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Consul
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4
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10 - 13
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3.
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Vice
Consul
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1
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8
- 10
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4.
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ASOs
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8
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7
- 8
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5.
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Personal
Assistant
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4
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7
- 8
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6.
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Security
Assistant
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1
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3
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Note: Apart from basic pay, officers/employees are paid Foreign Allowance which
is fixed by the Ministry of External Affairs from time to time.
Annexure III
Budget
utilization during Financial Year 2022-2023:-
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Chancery
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Commerce
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Budget allocation during
FY 2022-23 (Rs. in thousands only)
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212822
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21792
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Expenditure during FY
2022-23 (Rs. in thousands only)
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214108
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21286
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List of
regular CPIO & FAAs from 01.01.2015
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Sl. No.
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Name of CPIO
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Period
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Name of FAA
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1
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Mr. Bharat Kumar Kuthati,
Consul (PIC)
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01.01.15-16.04.15
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Mr. Prashant Agarwal,
Consul General
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2
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Mrs. Hema Rana, Vice
Consul
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17.04.15-16.07.15
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Mr. Prashant Agarwal,
Consul General
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3
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Mr. Karun Bansal, Consul
(CPM)
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17.07.15-06.04.16
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Mr. Prashant Agarwal,
Consul General
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4
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Mr. Karun Bansal, Consul
(CPM)
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07.04.16-22.09.16
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Mr. Ravi Sinha,Acting
Consul General
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5
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Mr. Karun Bansal, Consul
(CPM)
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23.09.16-28.05.18
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Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul
General
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6
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Mr. Narayan Singh, Consul
(HOC, Edu. & Culture)
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29.05.18-10.06.18
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Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul
General
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7
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Mr. Ajith John Joshua,
Consul (CPM)
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11.06.18-09.07.18
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Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul
General
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8
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Mr. Narayan Singh, Consul
(HOC, Edu. & Culture)
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10.07.18-29.07.18
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Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul
General
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9
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Mr. Ajith John Joshua,
Consul (CPM)
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30.07.18-31.01.19
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Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Consul
General
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10.
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Mr. Ajith John Joshua,
Consul (CPM)
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01.02.19-08.05.19
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Mrs. Mrinalini Srivastava,
Acting Consul General
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11.
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Mr. Ajith John Joshua,
Consul (CPM)
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09.05.19- 26.11.20
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Mrs. Priyanka Chauhan,
Consul General
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12.
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Mrs. Deepika Mishra,
Consul (HOC)
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27.11.20–27.01.21
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Mrs. Priyanka Chauhan,
Consul General
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13.
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Mr. Ajith John Joshua,
Consul (CPM)
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28.01.21-13.07.21
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Mrs. Priyanka Chauhan,
Consul General
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14.
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Ms. Priyanka Mehtani,
Consul (CPM)
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14.07.21-24.06.22
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Mrs. Priyanka Chauhan,
Consul General
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15.
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Ms. Priyanka Mehtani,
Consul (CPM)
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25.06.22-12.08.22
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Vacant
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16.
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Ms. Priyanka Mehtani,
Consul (CPM)
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13.08.22-18.08.22
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Ms. Satwant Khanalia,
Consul General
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17.
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Ms. Renjina Mary Varghese,
Consul (PIC)
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19.08.22-02.08.23
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Ms. Satwant Khanalia,
Consul General
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18.
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Mr. Himanshu Gupta, Consul
(PIC & HOC)
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03.08.23-16.08.24
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Ms. Satwant Khanalia,
Consul General
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19.
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Mr. Arvind Kumar Verma, Vice Consul (Culture & Education)
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19.08.24-till date
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Ms. Satwant Khanalia, Consul General
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Whenever regular
CPIO/FAA is on leave, link officer is assigned the duty of CPIO/FAA.
