Vikas Swarup, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, was on Thursday appointed as lndia's envoy to Canada.

Swarup, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of 1986 batch, is presently Additional Secretary. He is expected to take up his new assignment shortly, an official statement said.

Swarup will replace Arun Kumar Sahu who is currently working as acting Indian High Commissioner to Canada.

Swarup, a well-known author, penned the novel "Q & A", which was adapted in film as "Slumdog Millionaire", which won several Oscars.