Indian Foreign Service

Indian Foreign Service:

• Indian Foreign service is one of the most prestigious jobs in the world, it is therefore known as Heaven-born Service.
• Getting into this service is extremely tough as you need to rank below 150, but it is a service that will give you lifelong learning.
• IFS perks and salaries are some of the best that any Indian service can provide. In September 1946, on the eve of India’s independence, the Government of India decided to create a service called the Indian Foreign Service for India’s diplomatic, consular and commercial representation overseas.

Selection and training:

• UPSC is the only exam through which you can get into the Indian Foreign Service.
• annually 25-30 officers selected under ifs under this category.
• Comprehensive training programme intended to give them a thorough grounding in diplomatic knowledge, diplomatic qualities and diplomatic skills.
• The probationers commence their training, at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussourie.
• They join the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi and undergo focused training in the various disciplines of international relations theory, military diplomacy, trade, Indian foreign policy, history international law, diplomatic practice, hospitality, protocol and administration etc. the training programme will be around one year or may be two and half year.

Functions:

IFS officer represents the government of India in international countries.IFS officer is the highest level of representation of the government of India. They have the biggest role to create foreign policy, abroad on a wide variety of issues.

• They work under two divisions one is embassy and the other is a ministry of external affairs.
• 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.

IFS hierarchical structure:

1. Third secretary
2. Second secretary (6years service)
3. First secretary (13 years’ service)
4. Councilor (director) (16-18 years’ service)
5. Minister
6. Dcm (deputy chief of mission high commission (ambassador)

IFS salary, perks and benefits:

• The basic salary of an IFS officer is rs.60000/- per month. apart from this, they get a special foreign allowance of up to 3 lakh per month.
• Expenses will be taken over by the government.
• The vehicle was also provided to the IFS officer.
• Medical services, children’s education etc provided by the government.