IFS Offier

10th

12th (Any Stream)

Graduation in any discipline from a Recognized University

• After graduation, the student can apply for government agencies or private organizations.
• To become an IAS Officer, the candidate has to register and qualify for UPSC CSE Exam, which the Central Government conducts annually.
• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Exam is conducted every year.
• This exam is conducted in 2 phases:Preliminary examination and Main examination. 
• The pre-Exam is conducted in January-February, and the main exam is in March for those students who have qualified pre-exam.
• The candidate should be between 21 to 32 years of age on the first day of the month in which the course starts. However, the upper age limit will be relaxed by three years for OBC candidates and five years for SC/ST candidates. 
• The preliminary exam consists of multiple-choice questions from Current affairs, Indian history, and politics, and the Mains exam is a descriptive type of exam.

Official Website for Registration to UPSC CSE Exam: https://upsc.gov.in/examinations/active-exams

• After Qualifying the UPSC main exam, the candidate will go for the Interview to test the personality and mental ability of the candidate, such as the candidate's brain ability, personality, leadership skills, stress handling, administration skills, decision-making skills, interpersonal skills, etc., are tested. Candidates who clear the interview part will get a chance to feature in the merit list.
• The merit list is based on the marks scored by candidates in UPSC Written Exam and Interview. The final selection of candidates for training will be made based on this merit list.

Official Website for Registration to UPSC Exam: https://upsc.gov.in/examinations/active-exams

• After final selection based on the merit list, selected candidates become IFS officers and will go for training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie. After completing a 15-week training session at LBSNAA, candidates join the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi. At Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Candidates are trained in areas such as –

• International Relations Theory
• Military Diplomacy
• Trade
• India's Foreign Policy
• International Law
• Diplomatic Practice

• After becoming an IFS officer, the candidate has to work in the posts given by the government for a few years. For example, an IFS Officer is inducted as 'Third Secretary,' an entry-level position at an embassy. After that, the candidate gets promoted to higher posts such as – Second Secretary, First Secretary, Counsellor, Minister, Deputy Chief of Mission/Deputy High Commissioner/Deputy Permanent Representative, and Ambassador/High Commissioner/Permanent Representative.
• At the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), candidates are inducted as Assistant Secretary/Under Secretary. With time, candidates get promoted to positions such as – Deputy Secretary, Director, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, Secretary, and Foreign Secretary of India.

Who is an IFS Officer?

An Indian Foreign Service Officer (IFS Officer) is a professional responsible for dealing with the country's external affairs, such as diplomacy, trade, and cultural relations. The role of the Indian Foreign Service Officer includes framing and implementing policies that govern India's relations with other countries. The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is the diplomatic arm of the Government of India under Group 'A' Services. The Ministry of External Affairs is its cadre controlling authority. The service, consisting of civil servants, is entrusted with handling the foreign relations of India, providing consular assistance, and marking India's presence in international organizations. It is the body of career diplomats serving in more than 160 Indian diplomatic missions and international organizations worldwide.

Job Responsibilities of an IFS Officer

• An IFS officer's primary function is to deal with the country's external affairs, such as diplomacy, trade, and cultural relations.

• An IFS officeris pivotal in framing and implementing policies that govern India's relations with other countries.

• An IFS officer also represents India in embassies, high consulates, and missions to world multilateral organizations such as the UN.

• An IFS officer also Reports developments in the county of posting, which will likely influence India's policy formulations.

• An IFS officer is responsible for Maintaining cordial relationships with foreign nations.
• An IFS officer also extends consulate facilities to foreigners and Indian nationals abroad.

Career Scope of an IFS Officer

The government of India is the only recruiter of IFS Officers in India. There is no employment in the private sector, and the job is permanent in the government sector.

Salary/Income of an IFS Officer

At the entry level, the basic pay of IFS officers is Rs. 56,100. In addition, IFS Officers also get DA (Dearness Allowance), various types of allowances, and many services. The salary of an IFS Officer will increase as experience increases.