Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Who Is Sidharth Babu, Modi’s Interpreter at BRICS Summit?
Sidharth Babu is an Indian diplomat who helps Prime Minister Narendra Modi communicate with foreign leaders.
He was seen in a widely shared picture with Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit.
An interpreter does more than translate words.
The person must also understand tone, meaning and cultural differences.
Babu joined the Indian Foreign Service in the 2017 batch.
Before that, he studied mechanical engineering and worked in the e-commerce industry.
He later worked in Beijing and developed Mandarin skills.
He also studied language interpretation and translation in California.
Reports differ about whether his current ministry role is in the East Asia Division or the Europe and Eurasia division.
Sidharth Babu, also spelled Siddharth Babu, is a 2017-batch Indian Foreign Service officer seen beside Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS Summit.
Reports identify him as a diplomatic interpreter for Modi, helping convey language, tone and cultural context during high-level meetings.
Accounts differ on his current Ministry of External Affairs assignment: one identifies Europe and Eurasia, while another identifies the East Asia Division.
Babu is from Kochi, studied mechanical engineering, worked in e-commerce and secured All India Rank 15 in the Civil Services Examination after an unsuccessful first attempt.
His career has included postings in Beijing and California, Mandarin training and a master’s degree in language interpretation and translation.
- Who
- Sidharth Babu, also spelled Siddharth Babu, a 2017-batch Indian Foreign Service officer and diplomatic interpreter.
- What
- He was seen near Prime Minister Narendra Modi during high-level meetings at the 18th BRICS Summit.
- When
- At the 18th BRICS Summit; his reported career postings span December 2017 to the present.
- Where
- The summit was held in New Delhi; Babu is from Kochi, Kerala, and previously served in Beijing and Monterey County, California.
- Why
- His role is to interpret diplomatic conversations and help preserve their wording, tone and cultural context.
- Name
- Sidharth Babu; also reported as Siddharth Babu
- Civil service
- 2017-batch Indian Foreign Service officer
- Reported roles
- Diplomatic interpreter for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs
- Current division
- Reports differ between the East Asia Division and Europe and Eurasia
- Civil services result
- All India Rank 15 after a later attempt at the examination
- China posting
- Served in Beijing from August 2018 to July 2022
- Further education
- Master of Arts in Language Interpretation and Translation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
