Draft:Latha Reddy

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Vijaya Latha Reddy
Deputy National Security Advisor of India
In office 2011–2013
Preceded by	Shekhar Dutt
Personal details
Born	Vijaya Latha Reddy
Alma mater	University of Madras University of Bangalore
Occupation	Diplomat, cybersecurity expert

Vijaya Latha Reddy (also known as Latha Reddy) is a retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and national security expert. She served in the IFS for 36 years (1975–2011), rising to serve as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs. She subsequently served as India's Deputy National Security Advisor in the Prime Minister's Office from 2011 to 2013. In post-retirement life, she has contributed to international cybersecurity policy and written for major Indian publications.

Early life and education

Latha Reddy completed her Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature with first-class honours from the University of Madras, and a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature with first-class distinction from the University of Bangalore.

Diplomatic career (1975–2011)

Early postings

Reddy entered the Indian Foreign Service in 1975. A profile published in the Deccan Herald in 2009 described her career trajectory and postings across multiple continents, noting her postings in Lisbon, Washington D.C., Kathmandu, Brasilia, Durban, Vienna, and Bangkok.

She was among the early generation of women to reach senior positions in the IFS. A report in Telegraph India noted her as a pioneering figure in the representation of women in India's foreign service.

Consul General in Durban (1994–1997)

Reddy served as Consul General in Durban, South Africa, during the country's transition from apartheid to democracy. She played a role in re-establishing India's diplomatic presence in South Africa and worked alongside leaders of the African National Congress including Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Walter Sisulu, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. She inaugurated India's new consulate on Gandhi Jayanti (2 October 1994) at Durban's Old Station Building — the site where Mahatma Gandhi began his historic journey to Pietermaritzburg — with then-Vice President Thabo Mbeki as chief guest.

Ambassador to Portugal (2004–2006)

Reddy served as Ambassador of India to Portugal from 2004 to 2006. During her posting, she was involved in diplomatic negotiations relating to the extradition of fugitive criminal Abu Salem, which was widely covered in Indian media.

Ambassador to Thailand (2007–2009)

She served as Ambassador of India to Thailand from 2007 to 2009. Her appointment is recorded in the official directory of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. A report in The Telegraph India noted her among senior IFS officers active during this period.

Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs (2010–2011)

The final posting of her foreign service career was as Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi (2010–2011), where she held overall charge of India's bilateral and regional relations with Asia. In this capacity, she gave a formal press briefing on the President of India's state visit to the UAE and Syria.

Deputy National Security Advisor (2011–2013)

Reddy was appointed as India's Deputy National Security Advisor in the Prime Minister's Office in 2011, serving until 2013. In this role, she assisted National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and was responsible for cybersecurity and other critical internal and external security issues. Her appointment and role were noted in a column in The New Indian Express in May 2013.

Post-retirement roles

Cybersecurity and internet governance

After retiring from government service, Reddy became an active voice in international cybersecurity policy. She served as Co-Chairman of the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC), and co-authored a piece on building international norms for cybersecurity.

She contributed to the Atlantic Council's work on cybersecurity, including a publication on addressing India's cyber threats and participated in an Atlantic Council event on nontraditional security threats in South Asia.

In November 2023, she was quoted in both ANI and the Hindustan Times on the challenges of distinguishing deepfake videos from authentic footage, speaking in her capacity as a former Deputy National Security Advisor.

Writing and public commentary

Reddy has written for several major Indian publications. She contributed an article to The Economic Times on the need for polylateralism to address the decline of multilateralism.

She wrote for The Hindu on India's foreign policy, including a piece on the "Non-Alignment 2.0" policy report. She also wrote for The Hindu on the cultural history of the Deccan region and on Rabindranath Tagore's visit to China.

She wrote a personal tribute to filmmaker Shyam Benegal for The Wire following his death in December 2024.

In March 2024, she was quoted in a report on women in diplomacy, stating that women bring distinct strengths to diplomatic roles.

Cultural and heritage interests

Reddy serves as Chairperson of the Deccan Heritage Foundation India. She participated in a book launch event honouring former UN diplomat E.S. Reddy, as reported in The Indian Express.

External links

• Latha Reddy at World Economic Forum
• Latha Reddy at EastWest Institute
• Latha Reddy at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Latha Reddy at Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace

Category:Indian Foreign Service officers Category:Indian women diplomats Category:Ambassadors of India to Portugal Category:Ambassadors of India to Thailand Category:University of Madras alumni Category:Living people Category:Indian women in politics