Civil Service : Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

• The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) was formed in the year of 1946.

• The cadre controlling authority is Foreign Secretary.

• Cadre size: 618 posts (direct recruitment – 87%, promotion 13%).

• After selection, the training program consists of two stages, at  Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussourie and then at the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi .

Functions of IFS 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.