Taranjit Sindh Sandhu | Photo credit: AP
Taranjit Singh Sandhu was appointed as the Governor of Delhi on Thursday (March 5, 2026) by President Droupadi Murmu.
Mr. Sandhu will replace Vinai Kumar Saxena in the top job.
Know everything about the former diplomat.
Early life
Taranjit Singh Sandhu was born on 23 January 1963 in Punjab into an influential Sikh family with deep ties to religious and academic history.
His grandfather was Teja Singh Samundri, a prominent freedom fighter and founder of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC).
His father, Bishan Singh Samundri, was the founding vice-chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University and his mother, Jagjit Kaur Sandhu, was the principal of the Government College for Women, Amritsar.
Mr. Sandhu studied at The Lawrence School in Sanawar before obtaining a BA in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and an MA in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Career in the Indian Foreign Service
Mr. Sandhu joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). in 1988 and spent more than 35 years in various positions
His career began with a posting to the Soviet Union (1990-1992). After its dissolution, he was entrusted with the establishment of the Indian embassy in Ukraine, where he headed its political and administrative wing from 1992 to 1994.
American expert
Mr. Sandhu is considered one of India’s leading experts on the US and has held a number of diplomatic posts in the country.
First Secretary (Political): Mr. Sandhu served as a liaison to the US Congress from 1997 to 2000.
Deputy Chief of Mission: Sandhu served in this post from 2013 to 2017.
India’s Ambassador to the US: Mr. Sandhu served in this position from 2020 to 2024, during the crucial period of COVID-19 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the country in 2023.
He also served as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka (2017–2020) and Consul General in Frankfurt (2011–2013).
Political life
After his retirement, Taranjit Siandhu joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 19 March 2024.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he contested from the Amritsar constituency in Punjab, but came third with around 22.88% of the votes.
Mr. Sandhu was also appointed as the Chairman of the Geopolitical Institute of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).
Published – March 6, 2026 10:12 AM IST
