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What is IFS Exam?
One of the most sought-after positions in the UPSC Exam is the IFS—Indian Foreign Service. An IFS officer is tasked with managing India’s foreign affairs, including trade, diplomacy, and cultural ties, and representing the nation abroad. The UPSC conducts the IFS exam yearly, often known as the Indian Foreign Service Exam. One of the Group-A Services under the UPSC is the IFS or Indian Foreign Service. After the IAS and IPS, it is one of the most coveted posts. According to their rank, candidates who pass the UPSC – conducted Civil Services Examination are admitted to the Indian Foreign Service. The chosen applicants attend the Sushma Swaraj Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi for service training following service allocation and the required training at LBSNAA.
Recruitment Process of IFS
IFS officers are chosen through the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). The UPSC exam comprises three rounds of testing to select applicants for the Group A and Group B Central Services. Preliminaries, Mains, and interviews are these. Additionally, the chosen applicants receive instruction at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). Promotion from Group B services is the second strategy for hiring in IFS. The candidate is hired for this by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). In other words, the official chosen through this procedure may be appointed to the Ministry’s Joint Secretary position.
Indian Foreign Service Eligibility
- Nationality –
The candidate must be either a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, a subject of Bhutan, or a person of Indian descent who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, the East African nations of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam to settle in India permanently, or a Tibetan refugee who entered India before January 1, 1962.
- Age Limit –
The UPSC determines age as of the first day of the year that the UPSC Exam is held. You must be at least 21 years old to take the IFS Exam. Even the IFS Exam’s upper age limit is determined as of the first of August.
The maximum age allowed by UPSC for candidates in the general category is 32 years old. If the candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe, the prescribed upper age limit may be relaxed by a maximum of five years. The maximum age to take the UPSC Exam is 35 years old, with a 3-year relaxation for OBC candidates.
- Educational Qualification –
The candidate should hold a degree from any recognised university or have an equivalent qualification.
Indian Foreign Service Exam – Roles and Responsibility
- IFS personnel are responsible for representing India in its Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates, and Permanent Missions to Multilateral Organizations like the United Nations.
- They must defend India’s interests in the nation where they are deputed.
- Must establish friendly relationships with all the key players in the nation where they are posted.
- It is necessary to report any changes in the deputation nation that may impact Indian policy.
- Provide Indian and foreign nationals with access to consular services after successfully negotiating several vital issues with the relevant authorities in the posting country.
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is solely in charge of all issues about its international relations. Two divisions exist. The territorial division is one of them; it deals with the economic, political, and bilateral issues with the relevant nations. The functional division is the other part. It deals with many concerns related to multilateral organisations, disarmament, different regional groupings, legal, press, publicity, policy matters, and various other issues.
Indian Foreign Service Exam – Required Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Good Communication
- Knowledge of India’s policy, economy and affairs
- Diplomatic approach
- Leadership and decision-making quality
- Amazing Stamina
- But an essential quality is Patience
IFS – Exam Pattern
Stage1: Preliminary Written Test (IFS Exam)
Stage2: Main Written Test (IFS Exam)
Stage3: Interview
A. Preliminary Examination:
The exam consists of two 200-mark papers that are both required.
(i)The two exams will be of the objective variety (multiple choice questions).
(ii) The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination’s General Studies Exam-II will be a qualifying paper with a predetermined minimum qualifying mark of 33%.
(iii) Hindi and English shall be used in the question papers.
B. Main Examination
(i) The following papers comprise the written examination: Paper I—General English 300 Marks.
(ii) General Knowledge Paper II: 300 Marks
(iii) III, IV, V, and VI papers – Any two subjects from the list of optional subjects listed in paragraph 2 below may be chosen.
(iv) There will be two papers for each subject. — 200 marks for the papers.
C. Interview For Personality Test:
The interview, which carries a score of 275, is the last and most crucial stage. The board members assess the candidate’s skills at the interview stage. There are twice as many interview hopefuls as there are open positions. They are chosen based on their communicative skills and alertness. The interview panel will assess various qualities, including morality, patience, attentiveness, and judgement ability.
Indian Foreign Service Exam – How To Apply
- For the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, which will serve as a screening mechanism for applicants for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, candidates must apply online via the website www.upsconline.nic.in.
- Candidates who wish to apply for both the Indian Forest Service Examination and the Civil Services Examination must submit a single application and correctly indicate on the online application form that they wish to appear for both exams.
- Candidates who pass the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination must complete a Detailed Application Form following further instructions that will be sent to them via the Commission’s website (www.upsconline.nic.in).
