India celebrates IFS Day on October 9

• The government celebrated Indian Foreign Services (IFS) Day on October 9.

• On October 9, 1946, the government established the Indian Foreign Service for India’s diplomatic, consular and commercial representation overseas.

• In 1947, there was a near seamless transformation of the Foreign and Political Department of the erstwhile Indian government into what then became the Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations.

• In 1948, the first batch recruited under the combined Civil Service Examination system of the Union Public Service Commission joined the service. 

• This system of entry has remained the staple mode of intake into the IFS to this day.

Indian Foreign Service

• In recent years, the intake into the Indian Foreign Service has averaged between 30-35 persons annually. 

• The present cadre strength of the service stands at approximately 1,225 officers manning more than 200 Indian missions and posts abroad and the various posts in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at home.

• The Ministry of External Affairs represents the government of India on the global stage. 

• It is tasked with framing the country’s foreign policy and diplomatic relations, representing India’s voice beyond the borders. 

• Through its more than 200 diplomatic missions abroad, the ministry provides various services to Indian citizens abroad.

Training

• On selection to the Indian Foreign Service through the combined Civil Services Examination, the new entrants undergo a multi-faceted and comprehensive training programme intended to give them a thorough grounding in diplomatic knowledge, diplomatic qualities and diplomatic skills. 

• The probationers commence their training together with their colleagues from the other all India services at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. 

• Thereafter the probationers join the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (erstwhile Foreign Service Institute) in New Delhi and undergo focused training in the various disciplines.

• The institute course involves lectures, attachments with various wings of the government as well as familiarisation tours both within the country and abroad. 

• The aim of this course is to inculcate in the diplomat recruit a strong sense of history, knowledge of diplomacy and international relations and a grasp of general economic and political principles.

• At the conclusion of the training programme the officer is assigned his/her compulsory foreign language (CFL). 

• After a brief period of desk attachment in the Ministry of External Affairs the officer is posted to an Indian Mission abroad in a country where his CFL is the native language and enrolled in a language course. 

• The officer is expected to develop proficiency in his CFL and pass the requisite examination before he is confirmed in service.

Career as a diplomat

• A Foreign Service Officer begins his career abroad as a Third Secretary and is promoted to Second Secretary as soon as he is confirmed in service. 

• Subsequent promotions are to the levels of First Secretary, Counsellor, Minister and Ambassador/High Commissioner/Permanent Representative. 

• Officers can also be posted to Indian Consulates abroad where the hierarchy (going upwards) is Vice-Consul, Consul and Consul General.

• The hierarchy at the Ministry of External Affairs includes 6 stages: Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Director, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary and Secretary.

The functions of an Indian diplomat may be summarised as:

• Representing India in its Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates, and Permanent Missions to multilateral organisations like the UN.

• Protecting India’s national interests in the country of his/her posting.

• Promoting friendly relations with the receiving state as also its people, including NRI / PIOs.

• Reporting accurately on developments in the country of posting which are likely to influence the formulation of India’s policies.

• Negotiating agreements on various issues with the authorities of the receiving State.

• Extending consular facilities to foreigners and Indian nationals abroad.