How do I join the Indian Foreign Service ?
Union Public service commission conduct civil services exam every year for various posts like IFS, IAS, IPS,..etc mainly in two stages 1) Preliminary(objective type) and 2) Main exam (subjective type). Generally top 20 times candidates are selected for main exam from preliminary exam. For more detail go through this link: http://upsc.gov.in
Even if you do not join the IFS you can still think of a career in the foreign ministry on deputation for a term ranging from 2-5 years even if you join the other civil services but this would be subject to a host of factors viz. Availability of a vacancy, number of interested persons, requirements of the job etc
What is an Indian Foreign Service and can anyone tell me the benefits of this service?
The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is the foreign service of India. It is the body of career diplomats of India. It is part of the Central Services of the Government of India, under The Foreign Secretary, of India,who is the administrative head of the Indian Foreign Service. This is a highly rewarding career. Its Officers are the cream of the Officers.
Prestige, Power, Perks, Authority - they have all the best.
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, Counselor, 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.
Details about the Indian Foreign Service:
The Indian Foreign Service is part of the Central Services of the Government of India. The Foreign Secretary, of India, is the administrative head of the Indian Foreign Service.In 1948 the first group of Indian Foreign Service officers recruited under the combined Civil Services Examination administered by the Union Public Service Commission joined the service. This exam is still used to select new IFS officers to this day.
The Civil Services Examination is used for recruitment for many Indian administrative bodies. It has three stages - a preliminary exam, a main exam, and an interview - and is known for being extremely challenging. Entry into the IFS is considered very difficult; most applicants rank it and the Indian Administrative Service as their top choices because of the high prestige, salary, and benefits that come with such positions.
The entire selection process lasts 15 to 20 months. Repeated attempts are allowed up to four times. About 600 to 800 candidates are finally selected each year out of the nearly 400,000 + but only a top rank guarantees an IAS or IFS selection—an acceptance rate of around 0.01 percent.
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 700 officers manning around 162 Indian missions and posts abroad and the various posts in the Ministry of External Affairs at home. On acceptance to the Foreign Service, new entrants undergo in-depth training.
INDIAN FOREIGN SERVICE (IFS)
The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) was formed during the year 1946 with the cadre controlling authority of Foreign Secretary and a cadre size of 618 posts. The source of recruitment (in percentage) was by direct recruitment – 87%; by promotion – 13% and with no lateral entries.
Service hierarchy:
Grade
Pay scales
Designations in field
Designations in headquarters
Any other Designation
Junior time scale
8000-275-13500
Attache /third secretary
Under secretary
NIL
Senior time scale
10650-325-15850
Second / first secretary
Under secretary
NIL
Junior administrative grade
12750-375-16500
First secretary
Deputy secretary
NIL
Selection grade IV
15100-400-18300
Director
Counselor Director
NIL
Senior administrative grade
18400-500-22400
Minister/DCM Ambassador
Joint secretary
NIL
22400-525-24500
Ambassador/high Commissioner
Additional secretary
NIL
26000 (fixed)
Ambassador/High Commissioner
Secretary
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(P.S. When serving abroad the pay scale is very different and is linked to the UN Retail price index.)
Brief write up on the service outlining the main functions etc. including areas where interaction and coordination with other services is essential:
The IFS was created in October 1946 as a specialised service for the conduct of India’s relations with foreign countries in all aspects – political, economic, commercial, consular, external publicity and cultural affairs. The main functions of the IFS and its role in the conduct of foreign relations is enumerated below:
(i) Political – IFS officers are required to constantly monitor and assess the emerging situation in the host country and countries of concurrent accreditation, duly taking into account the political, economic and the socio-cultural factors, and brief the Government of India with a view to promoting and protecting our national interests. This involves maintaining a continuous supply of information to the Ministry of External Affairs by means of accurate and insightful reports on current events and discemible trends. Officers maintain regular contact with the host Government at appropriate levels to project and seek support for Government of India’s views on various international issues of vital importance to our interests. The views of the host Government are solicited and suitable feed back conveyed to headquarters to facilitate effective policy formulation.
(ii) Economic & Commercial – Economic and commercial work have an extremely important role to play in a Foreign Service officers’ line of duty. It is intricately linked to political work and one cannot be seen in isolation of the other. The main functions in the Economic and Commercial field include promotion of India’s economic and commercial interests including promotion of Indian exports to various countries, encouraging flow of investments into India, facilitating industrial and technical collaboration between Indian and foreign industrial, business and commercial organisations. Economic and commercial work requires constant monitoring of opportunities, making relevant information available, organising various trade promotion events, facilitating participation in trade fairs, assisting in resolution of trade disputes and dissemination of information on business and investment opportunities available in India. The concerned trade promotion and other divisions in Ministry of Commerce are closely associated with the functioning of the commercial wings of India’s Missions and Posts abroad.
(iii) Consular – Consular work involves protection of the rights of Indian nationals, assistance in settling their disputes, arranging repatriation of destitute Indians and maintaining contacts with and providing consular access to, Indian nationals who have been imprisoned in foreign countries for violation of local laws, as well as provision of passport facilities. In addition, consular work also involves expeditious issue of visas to foreign nationals desirous of visiting India. Consular work involves close coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regional Passport Offices located in various parts of the country.
(iv) Publicity – Publicity work involves projection of India’s views and concerns on national and international issues and influencing public opinion in the countries of accreditation with developments in India in all spheres, particularly those which have a bearing on India’s foreign policy and security. In addition to countering negative trends and media publicity, officers endeavour to enlarge the areas of positive perception about the country while attempting to build up greater awareness and understanding for its policies and values. Audio-visual, print material, material, and the Internet are used to reinforce the country’s positive image and to keep the media informed about issues that impinge on India’s national interests. Promotion of Indian culture as well as its understanding thereof abroad and strengthening of India’s cultural relations with host countries is an integral part of Publicity work and is an extremely important element of India’s foreign policy. Officers in close cooperation and consultation with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) impart instructions on various aspects of Indian cultural heritage including dance, music and Indian languages to foreign nationals and people of Indian origin alike. Officers are also entrusted with the work of organising cultural programmes, seminars and workshops for people of Indian origin abroad as well as foreign nationals. Cultural cooperation with several countries is also arranged through Cultural Treaties which enables mutually agreed and structured forms of cultural exchange programmes, finalized well in advance.
(v) Representation – A Foreign Service Officer is expected at all times and in all his contacts with the government as well as its people, in the country where he serves, to conduct himself as a representative of his country, his people and his government. He projects the imager of India through his words and deeds.
Civil Service Exam:
Exam Date : Prelim in 1st week of May & Mains in 2nd week of Oct
Eligibility Criteria :
1.Age limit
21 years must be completed on 1st August of the year, which a candidate is appearing. Maximum 30 for general category, 33 for OBCs and 35 for SCs/STs . Ex-servicemen will get 5 more years exemption from the prescribed age limit The date of birth accepted by the Commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in a certificate recognized by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University, which extract must be certified by the proper authority of the University or in the Higher Secondary or an equivalent examination certificate.
2.Number of Attempts
Four attempts for open, seven for OBCs and no limit for SCs/STs. If a person appears in the Preliminary Examination or even one paper is counted as an attempt.
3.Restrictions on applying for the examination:
A candidate who is appointed to the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Foreign Service on the results of an earlier examination and continues to be a member of that service will not be eligible to compete at this examination.
Exam Pattern :
All India Combined Competitive Examination for the Civil Services conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) comprises of two successive stages:
· Preliminary Examination: It is of objective type, which is a qualifying examination.
· Main Examination: It consists of written examination and interview.
The Preliminary Examination is held in May/June and the Main Examination in October/November. One must begin preparations of the main exam along with preliminary exam. This is because there is little time for the Main exam if one waits for the results of the Preliminaries.
The examination is a three stage process which consists of Civil Services Aptitude Test CSAT , Main Examination and the Interview
1. Civil Services Aptitude Test CSAT - IAS,IPS,IFS,IRS Exam - New Pattern
This is the first stage of Civil Services Examination. It is an Objective type examination consisting of Two Papers that is common to all candidates from 2011 having special emphasis on testing their “aptitude for civil services” as well as on “ethical and moral dimension of decision making”. The details are yet to be published and all candidates for CSAT are advised to concentrate more on General Studies of Preliminary examination with specail focus on Current Affairs/ Events,Science and Technology,Economy and sports of National and International importance that has a bearing on public life in India;
2. Civil Services Main Examination -IAS,IPS,IFS,IRS Descriptive Exam
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) selects, successful cadidates to Main Examination i.e. about 20 times of the total number of vacancies mentioned in the Notification. It is a descriptive examination.
3. Civil Services – Interview- The Final Stage
This is the last stage of Indian Civil Service Examination. Interview has 200 marks and it will be counted for final list of candidates. Usually double the number of vacancies will be selected for the interview subjected to the reservation for various categories. It is advised that all candidates should prepare about the details given in the main application form.
What is the qualification required to join the IFS ?
You should be an Indian and a graduate to sit for the Civil Services Exam. There also exists age limits for appearing in the exam depending on the category you belong to. For general category one should be between 21-30 years as on 1st August of the year of Examination. Also there are limits on the number of attempts you can take.
For details visit http://www.upsc.gov.in
Do I need to know a foreign language to get into the Foreign Service ?
No
What is the probationary period for indian foreign service?
On acceptance to the Foreign Service, new entrants undergo in-depth training. The entrants undergo a probationary period (and are referred to as probationers). Training begins at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussourie, where members of many elite Indian civil service organizations are trained for 3-4 months.
After completing the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, the probationers join the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi for professional training as well as attachments with different government bodies and tours both in India and abroad. This professional training programme is for a period of one year.
At the conclusion of the training programme at FSI the officer is assigned a compulsory foreign language (CFL). After a brief period of desk attachment in the Ministry of External Affairs for 6 months, the officer is posted to an Indian diplomatic mission abroad where the CFL is the native language. There the officer undergoes language training for 1-2 years depending on the language and is expected to develop proficiency in his CFL and pass an examination before being allowed to continue in the service. Thus the entire period od training lasts for 3-4 years depending on the language chosen.
On the conclusion of his period of probation to the satisfaction of the government and on his passing the prescribed examination, the Probationer is confirmed in his appointment. if however, his work or conduct has in the opinion of the Government been unsatisfactory, Government may either discharge him from the Service or may extend his period of probation for such period, as they may think fit , or may revert him to his substantive post, if any
If in the opinion of Government, the work or conduct of an officer on probation is unsatisfactory or shows that he is not likely to prove suitable for the Foreign service, Government may either discharge him forthwith or may revert him to his substantive post, if any.
Officers appointed to the Indian Foreign Service shall be eligible for appointment to the Senior scale and Junior Administrative Grade on completion of four years and in the 9th year of service respectively.
Note 1 - A probationer will be permitted to count the period spent on probation towards leave, pension or increment in the time scale.
Note 2 - Annual increments during probation will be contingent on the probationer passing the prescribed test if any and showing progress to the satisfaction of Government. Increments can also be earned in advance by passing the departmental examination.
Note 3: - The Pay of the Government servant, who held a permanent post other than a tenure post in substantive capacity prior to his appointment as a probationer, will be regulated subject to the provisions of F.R.22-B(i).
An officer belonging to the Indian Foreign Service will be liable to serve anywhere in or outside India.
During service abroad I.F.S. Officers are granted foreign allowance according to their status to compensate them for the increased cost of living and of servants and also to meet the special responsibilities in regard to entertainment
How to become an Ambassador?
To be an Ambassador of a country, you basically need to get into the Civil Services of the country. Ambassadors are generally chosen from the IFS. The first posting, however, is as a Third Secretary. The next as a Second Secretary, then a First Secretary, and after that Counsellor, MInister, DCM and then, possibly, Ambassador. Also, between foreign postings, alternate postings are in India, in the MInistry of External Affairs. The most senior officer of the IFS is the Foreign Secretary.
Who is the controlling authority of indian foreign service?
The Ministry of External Affairs in the Government of India is the Controlling Authority of the indian foreign Service.
Are diplomats Babus ?
No :)
What does IFS mean - foreign or forest ?
It can mean both but conventionally it refers to foreign and the forest service is acronymed as IFoS.
Is life in the indian foreign service cool?
Sure diplomacy is an exotic and enviable lifestyle, however remember you are there to serve your nation both rich and poor. This should be the coolest thing and not lining your own pocket or living a life of luxury. Everything comes at a price.
Is the Indian Foreign Services an All India Service (AIS)?
In our country there are only three AIS - the IAS, IPS and IfoS (Indian Forest Service). Civil services are of 3 types viz. AIS, the Central Service and the State Services. IFS is the premiormost central service of our country as Foreign policy is a matter of the central list as per the seventh schedule of our constitution. It is the exclusive prerogative of the Union Government.
Which is more powerful and offers more challenges throughout the career , Indian Administrative Service or Indian Police Service or Indian Foreign Service?
Every service has a role to play and the foreign service is supposed to be the best service of any evolved developed country becuase the stakes involved are very high. The implication and impact of every action is phenomenal. Moreover in a globalizing world the IFS will be required to play a pre-eminent role.
Revised Pay Scales as per the Sixth pay commission