US Senate confirms Nisha Desai Biswal as assistant secretary of state

The US Senate has confirmed Indian-American woman administrator Nisha Desai Biswal as the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, making her the first person from the community to hold the top diplomatic position. 

Biswal, who is currently the assistant administrator for Asia at the US Agency for International Development ( USAID), will replace incumbent Robert Blake to head the key bureau in the state department. 

President Barack Obama had nominated her for this top position on July 18.