Garcetti, a close ally of Joe Biden, was nominated for the post by the United States President in 2021.

His appointment was held up following allegations that he had overlooked accusations of sexual harassment against an aide when he was Mayor of America’s second biggest city.

Garcetti denies any wrongdoing, and the US Senate has now officially confirmed the appointment of the 52-year-old by a vote of 52-42, though some Democrats expressed their reservations and voted against him.

Garcetti was officially sworn in as the US Ambassador to India by US Vice-President Kamala Harris during a ceremonial event in Washington D.C.

The US has not had an Ambassador to India since January 2021 even though the two countries have strong security and trade ties.

Biden is eager to further bolster ties with India - a major trading partner - as Washington tries to tackle its neighbour China's growing influence in the region.

Garcetti’s appointment also coincides with India having adopted a neutral stance on Russia’s invasion last year of Ukraine, something which has desperately frustrated Washington.

India is the biggest market for Russian military equipment and continues to import huge quantities of crude oil from the country, ignoring bans in the US and parts of Europe.

"Ambassador Garcetti will be leading an ambitious effort to deepen our cooperation with India in critical and emerging technologies, expand our defence cooperation, and strengthen our economic and people-to-people ties," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

"The President has said, when we look at the relationship with India, it's one of the most consequential relationships that the United States has in the world.

"That still stands."

A graduate of Columbia University, Garcetti was an officer in the US Navy for 12 years before becoming a politician.

In 2013, he became the youngest Mayor of Los Angeles in 100 years and the first Jewish person to be elected for the role.

He held the post until 2022 when he completed the two-term limit.

Garcetti was a high-profile figure during Los Angeles’ bid to host the Olympics for a third time following successful Games in 1932 and 1984.

Last year, a Senate report accused Garcetti of ignoring accusations of sexual harassment against one of his close advisers, Rick Jacobs.

The report cited "numerous credible allegations from multiple whistle-blowers" of misconduct by Jacobs and said that it was "more likely than not that Mayor Garcetti either had personal knowledge of the sexual harassment or should have been aware of it".

Garcetti and the White House constantly denied the allegations and claimed that he had never considered withdrawing his name from the position in India.

"I had check-ins with the President, and he was 100 per cent behind me," Garcetti told The New York Times.