ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OF INDIAN FOREIGN SERVICE.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OF INDIAN FOREIGN
SERVICE – AN OVERVIEW

Conducted by the apex government-recruiting agency, the Indian Foreign Service is
one of the Central Civil Services of the executive branch of the Indian government. The
Indian Foreign Service or IFS members represent the nation in international territories.
Unlike other branches of Civil Services, IFS engages with the country’s external affairs
like trade, diplomacy, international relations, and so forth. It is also tasked with
framing the Indian government’s foreign policies and the management of India’s
overseas missions. Now that we have touched upon the basics let us look at the Indian
Foreign Service exam eligibility criteria.

WHO CAN BE AN IFS OFFICER?

Nationality Eligibility
To be selected for the post of an Indian Foreign Service officer, your nationality must
be either of the following –

.Citizen of India
.Nepal-related subject
.Subject of Bhutan
.Tibetans who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, and have established themselves there
permanently
.Migrants from the following countries who have permanently settled in India – Sri Lanka,
Burma, Pakistan, countries of East Africa such as Uganda, Kenya, the United Republic of
Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zaire, and Vietnam

Age Limit

The minimum age limit for the Indian Foreign Service exam eligibility is 21 years, and the
maximum age is 30 years. The concessions in terms of age for different groups include –

.Five years for SC/ST candidates
.Three years for OBC candidates
.Up to 5 years for people from the state of Jammu and Kashmir
.Up to 5 years for Defense Services Personnel
.Up to 5 years for Ex-servicemen, including Commissioned officers and ECO/SSCOs who have
rendered a minimum of five years in the military and are released
.Up to 5 years for ECO/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years in
the military service
.Up to 10 years for deaf, blind, mute, and orthopedically handicapped persons

Educational Eligibility
The educational qualifications and soft skills required to become an IFS officer include –

•Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree from any recognized university in India or must
.have equivalent qualification skills.
•Practical thinking
•Decision-making skills
•Good communication competencies
•Knowledge about foreign affairs
•Abreast with contemporary knowledge
•Excellent leadership abilities
•Number of Attempts Allowed to Candidates from Different Categories

•Seven attempts for General Category candidates
•No restrictions for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates
•Nine attempts for candidates from Other Backward Castes
•Now that we have comprehensively looked at the eligibility criteria to become an IFS officer
let us briefly glance at the roles and responsibilities of the same

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN INDIAN FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER

To begin with, an IFS officer represents India in its embassies, high commissions,
multilateral organizations, and commissions. Indian Foreign Service is that branch of
the Central Civil Services that deals with protecting the country’s national interests in
international territories and strives to promote and foster cordial relationships and
friendships with other nations. The role of an IFS officer is invigorating, promising,
lucrative, and highly challenging.