Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

 One of the nation's Central Services is the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). The IFS is a highly sought-after tag because of the distinct challenges it presents in addition to the financial rewards and lifestyle that diplomats enjoy. This article provides information on the training given to IFS probationary officers as well as the pay, benefits, roles, and duties related to the Indian Foreign Service.

Duties of (IFS):-

1. Representing India at its consulates, Embassies, High Commissions, and Permanent Missions to Multilateral Organizations such as the United Nations
2. IFS personnel are responsible for protecting Indian interests and matters in the nation where they are deputated..
3. It is necessary to report any events that occur in the deputation country that could potentially affect Indian policy..
4. Permit foreign and Indian nationals to visit consulates.
5. Regarding all things pertaining to India's international relations, all responsibility lies with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Two divisions exist. The territorial divide is one of them; it deals with bilateral, political, and economic issues with the relevant nations. The functional division is the second division that deals with a wide range of concerns related to policy matters, press, publicity, multilateral organizations, disarmament, and many other areas.

Training period & Tenure:-

Once verified, you will be assigned to work as a Second Secretary in one of the following wings: Political, Economic or Commerce, Consular, Administrative, or Cultural in an Indian Embassy, or for three years as a Consul at an Indian Consulate. Once more, an officer is required to become knowledgeable about the subtle political, economic, commercial, and cultural aspects of the nation in which he is posted.

1. Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), near Mussourie, offers instruction to individuals chosen for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) cadre. The duration of the program would be between three and four months. The probationers would get training in diplomatic knowledge, abilities, and attributes expected of a diplomat.
2. Probationers are then sent to the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi, where they receive specialized instruction in the several fields that a career diplomat must become knowledgeable in. This training includes lectures, attachments with different government agencies, and domestic and international familiarization excursions. Your training here as a Foreign Service Probationer will last a year, during which you will learn about International Relations, Foreign Trade, the operation of Indian missions in neighboring South Asian countries, attachments with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, attachments with the district and state administration, and attachments with the corporate sector.
3. Probationers will get on-the-job training after completing the aforementioned instruction, during which they will spend six months working with a Ministry of External Affairs division. Following that, a Compulsory Foreign Language (CFL)—such as Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian, Spanish, or another—will be assigned to them.
4. Afterwards, the individual intends to work as a Language Trainee Third Secretary in an Indian mission overseas. It is required of them to learn CFL here. They won't be officially recognized as an IFS officer until they pass a competence exam administered by the Ministry of Defense's School of Foreign Languages (SFL). From the training days in Mussoorie, it takes three years to get this far!

Career Width (IFS)-

At an Indian Mission Abroad	1. Third Secretary (Language Trainee)
	2. Second Secretary
	3. First Secretary
	4. Counsellor
	5.Minister
	6.Ambassador
At MEA Headquarters, India	1. Attaché
	2. Under Secretary
	3. Deputy Secretary
	4. Director
	5. Joint Secretary
	6. Additional Secretary
	7. Secretary
	(The Highest Post under IFS is the Foreign Secretary, who serves from India).

 Salary Perks & Pay scale (IFS) :-

There would be a Special Foreign Allowance for IFS officers. The fee varies according on the posting country. For instance, a newly appointed officer to the Indian mission in the United States may receive US $4000 a month. The allowance rises in proportion to the grade

.

Post Abroad	Post in India	Payscale
Attaché/Third Secretary	Under Secretary	8000-275-13500
Second/First Secretary	Under Secretary	10650-325-15850
First Secretary	Deputy Secretary	12750-375-16500
Director	Counselor Director	15100-400-18300
Minister/DCM Ambassador	Joint Secretary	18400-500-22400
Ambassador/High Commissioner	Additional Secretary	22400-525-24500
Ambassador/High Commissioner	Secretary	26000 (Fixed)

In addition, IFS officials receive official vehicles, security guards, decent housing, domestic assistance, retirement benefits, pensions, and opportunities for study abroad.