 was formed in the year of 1946. The cadre controlling authority for Indian Foreign Service is Foreign Secretary. After){kind=link}
The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) was formed in the year of 1946. The cadre controlling authority for Indian Foreign Service is Foreign Secretary. After selection, the training program consists of two stages, at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Missouri and then at the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi.
- Cadre size: 618 posts (direct recruitment – 87%, promotion 13%).
Functions of Indian Foreign Service Officers
As a career diplomat, the Foreign Service Officer is required to project India’s interests, both at home and abroad on a wide variety of issues. These include bilateral political and economic cooperation, trade and investment promotion, cultural interaction, press and media liaison as well as a whole host of multilateral issues.
The main functions can be summarized as:
- Representing India in its Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates, and Permanent Missions to multilateral organizations like 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; and
- Extending consular facilities to foreigners and Indian nationals abroad.
- At home, Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for all aspects of external relations. Territorial divisions deal with bilateral political and economic work while functional divisions look after policy planning, multilateral organizations, regional groupings, legal matters, disarmament, protocol, consular, Indian Diaspora, press and publicity, administration and other aspects.
Service Hierarchy
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Grade
|
Pay scales
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Designation in Field
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Designation in Headquarters
|
|
Junior time scale
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8000-275-13500
|
Attaché / Third secretary
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Under secretary
|
|
Senior time scale
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10650-325-15850
|
Second / First secretary
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Under secretary
|
|
Junior administrative grade
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12000-375-16500
|
First secretary
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Deputy secretary
|
|
Selection grade IV
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14300-400-18300
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Director
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Counselor Director
|
|
Senior administrative grade
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18400-500-22400
|
Minister/DCM Ambassador
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Joint secretary
|
|
22400-525-24500
|
Ambassador/high Commissioner
|
Additional secretary
|
|
|
26000 (fixed)
|
Ambassador/High Commissioner
|
Secretary
|
Must Read:
Role of Civil Servants (IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS and IES)