Indian Foreign Service

India seen as 'Vishwa Bandhu' in conflict-ridden world: President Murmu

Asserting that India is engaging the world with renewed vigour to find solutions to global challenges, including climate change or taking a principled stand against international terrorism, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said the country is seen as a reliable Vishwa Bandhu' in a fast-changing and conflict-ridden world. Addressing officer trainees of the Indian Foreign Service (2023 batch), who had called on the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here, she asked them to always be there for fellow Indians abroad. "In my recent visits abroad, I have seen for myself, the immense goodwill generated by our development partnership projects, in the field of infrastructure, education, health and agriculture; particularly in countries of the Global South," Murmu said. There is also tremendous interest in Indian soft power, including films, Yoga, Ayurveda and Indian art, crafts, dance and music, she said. "I have also sensed that our friends and partners abroad now have very high ...

Ex-foreign secretary Kwatra appointed as India's next ambassador to US

Former Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra was on Friday appointed as India's ambassador to the United States. "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The post of India's envoy to the US has been lying vacant since Taranjit Sandhu retired in January. Kwatra served as the foreign secretary from May 1, 2022, to July 14, 2024. Kwatra joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1988 and served in India's Permanent Mission in Geneva in the initial years of his service. Between 1993 and 2003, he served as a desk officer at the external affairs ministry's headquarters in Delhi dealing with the United Nations, and subsequently in the diplomatic missions in South Africa and Uzbekistan. From 2003 to 2006, he served as the counsellor and later as the deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy in Beijing. From 2006 to 2010, he represented India at the SAARC Secretariat in Nepal as head of the trade, economy and finance bureau. From May 2010 ti

Misri to board to Bhutan on Friday in first trip as foreign secretary

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will pay a two-day visit to Bhutan beginning Friday, in his first trip abroad after assuming charge of the top post. In Bhutanese capital Thimphu, Misri will meet Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel and Foreign Secretary Pema Choden among others, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said while announcing the visit. The foreign secretary's visit underscores the "highest priority" the government of India attaches to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy, it said. Misri will also receive an audience with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, according to the MEA. In their talks, Misri and Choden are expected to carry out a comprehensive review of the bilateral ties, including issues having mutual security interests, people familiar with the visit said. "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will pay an official visit to Bhutan from July 19-20, which will be his first visit abroad after taking over as the foreign secretary," the M

Dy NSA Vikram Misri named next foreign secy, to succeed Vinay Mohan Kwatra

Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) Vikram Misri was on Friday named as the next Foreign Secretary, according to an official order. Misri, a 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed to the post with effect from July 15, it said. He will succeed Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who was in March this year given a six months' extension. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Misri, Deputy NSA in the National Security Council Secretariat, to the post of Foreign Secretary with effect from July 15, said the order issued by the Personnel Ministry. It also approved the curtailment of Misri's tenure as the Deputy NSA.

Biden admin working hard to thwart attacks against Indians: White House

US President Joe Biden and his administration are working very hard to thwart and disrupt attacks on Indian and Indian American students, the White House has said. The announcement by John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House comes amid a slew of attacks on Indian and Indian American students in various parts of the country. There is no excuse for violence, certainly based on race or gender or religion or any other factor. That's just unacceptable here in the United States, Kirby told reporters here when asked about the series of attacks on students from India and also those from the Indian American community. The president and this administration have been working very, very hard to make sure we're doing everything we can to work with state and local authorities to try to thwart and disrupt those kinds of attacks and make it clear to anybody who might consider them that they'll be held properly accountable, Kirby ...

Li Keqiang, China's diminished former premier, dies of heart attack at 68

Li Keqiang's term as premier coincided with the first 10 years of Xi Jinping's reign as China's president and top party leader

India in touch with US authorities on Tahawwur Rana's extradition: Kwatra

India is in regular touch with the US authorities for a speedy and early extradition of Tahawwur Rana, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Thursday against the backdrop of a US court approving extradition of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused. In a major victory for India's fight in bringing perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks to justice, US Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian of the US District Court of the central district of California issued a 48-page order on May 16, saying Rana should be extradited to India. "Insofar as the question of Tahawwur Rana is concerned, we are in very regular touch with the US authorities to ensure that there is speedy and early extradition of Tahawwur Rana. We have all seen the judgement which was given by the local US court there. That conversation of ours with the US side is continuing," Kwatra said. He was replying to a question at a media briefing on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take up the issue of Rana's extradition to India if .

India monitoring events having impact on national interest: Foreign Secy

Indian on Tuesday said that it is closely monitoring developments which have a direct impact on its national interest, in respect to China

Former diplomat, Padma Bhushan awardee Chandrashekhar Dasgupta no more

Between 1993 and 1996, Dasgupta served as the Indian ambassador to China

1,472 posts of IAS, 864 for IPS officers vacant: Centre in Lok Sabha

There is a vacancy of 1,472 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, 864 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and 1,057 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. The sanctioned strength of IAS officers was 6,789, 4,984 of IPS officers and 3,191 for IFS officers as on January 1, 2022, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply. Of these, 5,317 IAS officers, 4,120 IPS officers and 2,134 IFS officers, respectively, were in position, he said. "Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process. It is the endeavour of the central government to fill up vacant posts expeditiously. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts examinations for filling up of vacancies on direct recruitment basis in IAS, IPS and IFS every year," the minister said. The government has increased the annual intake of IAS officers to 180 through civil services examination (CSE) till CSE-2021, he said. Further, a committ

Centre appoints 3 Indian Foreign Service officers to different posts in PMO

Three Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers were on Thursday appointed to different posts in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Deepak Mittal, a 1998-batch IFS officer, has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the PMO, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said. Vipin Kumar and Nidhi Tewari have been appointed as Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary respectively in the PMO. Kumar is a 2013-batch IFS officer and Tewari belongs to the 2014 batch. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in the tenure of Rudra Gaurav Shresth, Joint Secretary in the PMO, for a period of two months beyond February 9, 2023 or until three weeks after joining of Mittal as the OSD, whichever is earlier, it said.

Indian Foreign Service will expand India's footprint: Jaishankar on IFS Day

IFS will grow from strength to strength in the coming years and will help advance India's interests globally, said EAM S Jaishankar as he greeted the members of foreign service on the IFS Day 2022

India at 75: The Executive tops the list of worst-performing institutions

There is an "us vs them" approach to governance that has permeated all the services that constitute the Executive

Bureaucrats and diplomats: The divergence in their post-retirement writing

While IAS officers write primarily about their own exploits, IFS officers write more about the issues and context of their work, while straying also into unrelated fields, notes T N Ninan

'It's about confidence', says Jaishankar on Rahul's 'arrogant' remark

In a tweet External Affairs Minister said, "Yes, the Indian Foreign Service has changed. Yes, they follow the orders of the Government. Yes, they counter the arguments of others".

Yes, IFS has changed, it's called defending national interest: EAM to Rahul

Reacting to the Congress leader's remarks, Jaishankar tweeted that the change in the Indian Foreign Service is a reflection of confidence.

Vinay Mohan Kwatra appointed as India's new Foreign Secretary: Govt

He served as Minister (Commerce) in the Embassy of India, Washington from May 2010 till July 2013

Pakistan PM faces criticism for his remarks over foreign service officers

Pakistan PM Imran Khan has come under criticism for accusing the country's foreign service officers of harbouring 'colonial mindset' and 'callousness' while appreciating their Indian counterparts

From Andhra Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh, state bureaucracy becomes top heavy

The bloated numbers at the top have reduced the efficiency of state administrations, both for maintaining law and order and to have development works reach the people

Fewer bureaucrats opting for Centre at senior management grades, shows data

It has been matched with an explosion in the number of officers of the same cadres posted to the states.