India approves major foreign service restructuring after 19 years, to add 200+ IFS officers

In a significant move to address the growing need for specialized manpower and to meet the increasing demand for Indian missions abroad, the Union Cabinet has approved the cadre review and restructuring proposal of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). As per a TOI report, this decision, which comes after 19 years since the last restructuring, aims to strengthen the cadre by adding approximately 215 officers over the next five years.

The approval for the cadre review and restructuring was granted in light of India's rising influence on the global stage and the government's plans to open nine new Indian missions in the coming years. The recent successful conduct of the G-20 summit also played a role in this decision. The restructuring will not only increase the number of IFS officers at the entry level but also create additional posts to cater to the growing needs of the foreign service.

An official told TOI, "The demand for cadre review has been a long-standing one, and the Cadre Review Committee had recommended it almost a year ago. The last review and restructuring of the IFS took place in 2004." The decision to proceed with this review was influenced by various factors, including the need for more manpower to support India-led initiatives such as the Global Biofuel Alliance, International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and International Yoga Day.

The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the significant increase in the average number of visits made by senior government officials to countries with Indian missions. The number of visits has risen from approximately 9-10 per year in 2014 to nearly 35-40 in 2023. This necessitates the deployment of more specialized personnel both at the headquarters in New Delhi and at the Indian missions abroad.

Earlier this year, the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs recommended increasing the manpower of the Indian diplomatic service to align with India's aspirations to play a key role on the global stage. The committee noted that the IFS is currently understaffed compared to many other countries. According to their report, the 1,011 IFS officers constitute only 22.5% of the total strength of the Ministry of External Affairs, which stands at 4,888.