IFS Full Form

Table of Contents - IFS Full Form

• Overview of IFS
• History of IFS
• IFS Eligibility
• IFS Training
• IFS Rank
• IFS Salary
• IFS Functions

History of Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

1783 - To relieve the pressure on Warren Hastings's government, the Board of Directors of East India Company passed a resolution to create a department, eventually known as the Indian Foreign Department.

1843 - Administrative reforms by the then Governor-General Ellenborough organized 4 departments - Foreign, Home, Finance, and Military. But there was a distinction between the “foreign” and “political” function of the foreign department, relations with Asian nations were considered as political and with European nations as “foreign”.

1935 - A dedicated External Affairs department under the direct charge of the Governor-General was created, as it was important to bifurcate “political” and “foreign” aspects of the foreign department.

1946 - A dedicated Indian Foreign Service was created for India’s diplomatic, consular, and commercial representation at the International level.

1947 - The Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations was created, and the recruitment of foreign officers was started through a combined civil services examination by the UPSC.

About the Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is one of the most prestigious and significant post under the Government of India, It is the diplomatic arm of the Government of India. The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is managed by the Ministry of External Affairs. The Indian Foreign Service officers are generally posted in embassies, high commissions, & consulates and they are responsible for maintaining peaceful and fruitful bilateral relations.

How to Become an IFS Officer?

To become an Indian Foreign Service officer (IFS), one needs to clear the UPSC Civil Services Examination with a good rank. IFS is one of the prestigious services that demands dedication, smart preparation, and a good understanding of India’s diplomacy and International relations.

IFS Officer Eligibility Criteria

Candidates need to meet the eligibility criteria of the Civil Services Examination set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC eligibility criteria to become an IFS officer include nationality, education qualification, age limit, and attempt limitation.

Exam Pattern for IFS Exam

The exam for IFS is conducted by the UPSC and UPSC exam pattern comprises three 3 stages - Preliminary, Mains, and the Interview.

Training of IFS Officers

The candidates after the selection to the Indian Foreign Service through the UPSC Civil Services Examination go for training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) along with their colleagues from the other All India Services and then go for specialization training at Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS). These training sessions mainly focus on developing diplomatic knowledge, diplomatic skills, and diplomatic qualities among the IFS trainees.

IFS Training At LBSNAA

At LBSNAA, IFS trainees along with their colleagues from the other All India Services start their foundational training and learn about public administration, governance, and inter-service cooperation. This common training is designed to encourage comradeship, inter-service collaboration, and a comprehensive understanding of the country's administration setup.

IFS Training at SSIFS

After completing the foundation training at LBSNAA, IFS trainees join the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi and undergo specialization training that is required for a diplomat’s career. The specialization course consists of lectures, cross-service collaboration with various wings of the government, and familiarization tours within the country and abroad as well. This specialization course is designed to inculcate diplomacy knowledge and techniques, a strong understanding of international relations, and, knowledge of established economic and political concepts.

Posting of IFS Officers

After the training period, a compulsory Foreign language (CFL) according to the rank and preference is assigned to each Indian Foreign Officer. IFS Officers can not choose English as their compulsory foreign language (CFL) as English is an official Indian language. Following a brief period of desk attachment (Assistant Secretary) within the Ministry of External Affairs, the IFS officer is assigned to an Indian Mission abroad as a third secretary, specifically in a country where the native language matches their Compulsory Foreign Language (CFL). Here, the officer is also enrolled in a language course to enhance their proficiency. The IFS officer is required to develop proficiency in their Compulsory Foreign Language (CFL) and successfully pass the necessary examination before being confirmed in service. After passing the CFL examination, the IFS officer is promoted to the Second Secretary from the Third Secretary.

Rank in Indian Foreign Service

An IFS officer can be posted in India and abroad in various capacities. Usually, IFS officers are posted at the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions & Embassies abroad, and International organizations.

• At the Embassy - Third Secretary (entry-level), Second Secretary, First Secretary, Counsellor, Minister of Mission, and Ambassador / High Commissioner.
• At the Indian Consulates abroad- Vice-Consul, Consul, and Consul General.
• At the Ministry of External Affairs - Desk Attachment (Assistant Secretary), Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Director, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, and Secretary.

Salary of IFS Officers

Note - In addition to Basic Pay, Indian foreign officers are granted a Foreign Allowance, which is periodically determined by the Ministry of External Affairs.

IFS Vacancies in UPSC CSE (10 Years)

Every year UPSC conducts the civil services exam to recruit for posts like IAS, IPS, IFS, etc. Recruitment to the IFS (Indian Foreign Services) is done mainly through the UPSC's Civil Services Examination annually.

Functions of an IFS Officer

The core duty of the Indian Foreign Officer is to project and protect India's interests, both at home and abroad. The functions of an IFS officer are-

• Representation : An IFS officer's job is to represent India in Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates, and International Organizations.
• Protection: Protecting India’s national interests in the country of posting and their relationship with India, which includes trade cooperation, cultural promotion, and political cooperation.
• Reporting: Providing accurate reports on developments in the host country that may impact the formulation of India’s policies.
• Consular : Providing consular services to both Indian nationals and foreign citizens abroad.

Function at Ministry of External Affairs

At MEA, the functions of an IFS officer are divided in 2 categories - Territorial & Functional divisions. The territorial division deals with bilateral, political, and economic work, and the functional division deals with policy planning, multilateral organization, regional groupings, legal matters, disarmament, protocol, consular, Indian diaspora, press and publicity, administration, and other aspects.

How to Prepare for the IFS Exam?

Preparing for the IFS examination, conducted by the UPSC, requires a well-structured strategy with the right approach and consistency.

• Understand the IFS exam pattern - The important thing before starting the preparation for the IFS exam is to go through the IFS exam pattern. Each stage of the IFS exam requires a different strategy - Prelims is an MCQ-type paper, Mains is a subjective paper, and the Interview is a kind of screening test.
• Familiarize yourself with the IFS syllabus - Getting the overview of the IFS exam syllabus is a must-do thing. An IFS candidate should remember the complete syllabus, this will help them to focus and keep their preparation relevant.
• Study Plan - Creation of the Study plan keeps preparation in a well-organized manner. Setting up daily, weekly, &monthly targets and Syllabus breakdowns in small sections keeps preparation smooth and enhances focus.
• Choose the right study material - Candidates should choose the right books and study material. Before starting preparation, a candidate should know why, how & what of UPSC as it can save a lot of time of preparation.
• Practice Mock Tests - A candidate is required to develop the regular mock test as it shows the real picture. It increases the efficiency with speed for the main examination and increases the accuracy for the prelims examination.