FORM 6-K
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C., 20549


       REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the month March 2003
Commission File Number 001-15118

                          VIDESH SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED
                 (Translation of registrant's name into English)

        Videsh Sanchar Bhavan, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Mumbai 400 001, India
                     (Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F [X]    Form 40-F [ ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): __________

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): __________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Yes [ ]   No [X]

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2 (b): 82 - _________.





Registrant hereby incorporates in the report on Form 6-K the following Exhibit:

Exhibit
Number     Description of Exhibit
- ------     ----------------------

99.1       Press release announcing the appointment of an additional
           non-executive director on the VSNL board of directors.


Forward-Looking Statements

         All words and statements other than statements of historical fact
included in this Form 6-K (including the attached exhibits), including, without
limitation, "expect", "believe", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate",
"may", "will", "would" and "could" or similar words and statements concerning
the registrant and its prospects, and other statements relating to the
registrant's expected financial position, business strategy, the future
development of the registrant's operations and the general economy in India, are
forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or
achievements of the registrant, or industry results, to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the
registrant's present and future business strategies and the environment in which
the registrant will operate in the future. The important factors that could
cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such
forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in government policies
or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to the
administration of the registrant's industry, and changes in general economic,
business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could cause
actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such
forward-looking statements, many of which are not in the registrant's control,
include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed in the
registrant's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its annual report of Form 20-F filed on September 27, 2002. These
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Form 6-K. The
registrant expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to
reflect any change in the registrant's expectations with regard thereto or any
change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is
based.







                                   SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.






                                       VIDESH SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED



                                       By: /s/ Arun Gupta
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:  Arun Gupta
                                           Title: Executive Director (Finance)


Date:  March 31, 2003