NEW DELHI: Nirupama Rao took charge as India’s new foreign secretary today as incumbent Shivshankar Menon retired from the job of Foreign Service yesterday. Kerala-born Rao become second female diplomat to win the coveted post after Chokila Aiyer. Assuming her duty here, Rao, who was India’s Ambassador to China until yesterday, said the focus of her new responsibilities would be to further augment India’s diplomatic and professional capabilities in order to play an even more prominent role in world affairs. Born in 1950, Rao joined IFS in 1973. She has already served in some of the famous world capitals including Washington DC and Moscow. Rao was the first female spokesperson for the MEA and has had extensive experience in relations between India and China, having served in the East Asia Division of the MEA. Rao is married to IAS officer Shri Sudhakar Rao who is the Chief Secretary, Karnataka Government.