Posted by: Raunika Sood Posted on: Tue 03 May 2011An officer begins his career abroad as a third secretary and is promoted to second secretary as soon as he is confirmed in service. Subsequent promotions are to the levels of first secretary, counsellor, minister and ambassador/high commissioner/permanent representative. Officers can also be posted to Indian consulates abroad.
Posted by: Raunika Sood Posted on: Tue 03 May 2011An officer begins his career abroad as a third secretary and is promoted to second secretary as soon as he is confirmed in service. Subsequent promotions are to the levels of first secretary, counsellor, minister and ambassador/high commissioner/permanent representative. Officers can also be posted to Indian consulates abroad.
What's it about
An IFS officer is supposed to project and protect national interests in a range of spheres, including bi-national economic and political cooperation, trade promotion, cultural links, media relations, as also multilateral issues, domestic as well as overseas.
Pay Off
The grade pay at the entry level is approximately R7,400 a month. The basic pay does not change for up to the seventh year of service but the FA (foreign allowance) goes up. FA can range from $3,500 a ...
The grade pay at the entry level is approximately R7,400 a month. The basic pay does not change for up to the seventh year of service but the FA (foreign allowance) goes up. FA can range from $3,500 a month in New York to $2,700 to $2,800 in Kathmandu). A joint secretary’s grade pay is the same as a minister’s in a mission (R10,000; FA is about $5,000 at most stations) but the monthly take-home is around R60,000
A joint secretary is eligible to be ambassador. He or she also receives dearness allowance (DA), 100 per cent medical cover, HRA (or government housing), city compensatory allowance, travel allowance (a JS/additional secretary can opt for an official car instead), and your children's school fees reimbursed.
How do i get there
Entry to the IFS is through the Union Public Service Commission’s civil services examination, open to graduates in any discipline, though an international relations background would help.
Entry to the IFS is through the Union Public Service Commission’s civil services examination, open to graduates in any discipline, though an international relations background would help.
The exam includes a written preliminary test and a main exam, followed by an interview. After a foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, entrants are sent to the Foreign Service Institute for specific training.
For more details, check upsc.gov.in
