New Delhi: India's ambassador to China, Nirupama Rao, will be the country's next foreign secretary and will succeed Shivshankar Menon who retires on 31 July after an eventful three-year stint as the country's top diplomat.

Rao, a 1973-batch IFS officer, has served in a number of key positions, and will only be the second woman to become the country's top diplomat, after Chokila Iyer.

Iyer served as foreign secretary from March 2001 to June 2002.

 Prior to her ambassadorial assignment at Beijing, the 58-year Rao has served as Indian envoy to Sri Lanka and also a stint as the ministry's first woman spokesperson.

A seasoned diplomat Rao has served in the Indian missions in Washington and Moscow and also held a top assignment as joint secretary (East Asia).

She takes over at a time when a new UPA government starts its second innings and seeks to enhance the country's prestige in world affairs. The region in India's immediate proximity is also caught in the throes of an intensifying conflict against forces sponsoring and practising global terror.

Wife of senior IAS officer Sudhakar Rao, she holds a masters degree in English Literature from Marathwada University. Her early education took place in cities across the country, including Bangalore, Pune, Lucknow, Coonoor (Tamil Nadu).

Nirupama is an accomplished singer in her own right and has a penchant for classical music (Hindustani and Carnatic) besides theatre and writing.

Her first book of poems 'Rain Rising' was published in India in 2004. It was released in Sri Lanka also where she was posted from 2004 to 2006.

Menon, who had superseded 17 seniors to the top post in 2006, has had an eventful tenure whose highlight was the clinching of civilian nuclear deal with the US.