Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United States of America, officials said on Friday.

The post remained vacant since January.

The last envoy of the country was Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

"He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," read a statement issued by tHe Ministry of External Affairs.

Kwatra is a 1988 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.

In his career, he also served as the Foreign Secretary after Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

The senior diplomat emitted office as foreign secretary on July 14.

He had earlier served as India's envoy to France and Nepal.