Moulding the IFS Probationer Officers as Kautilya

Indian Foreign Service is considered as the high-profile post where the successful candidates get a wide opportunity to explore the new horizons in the international arena.

The Indian government established the Indian Foreign Service for India’s ambassadorial, consular and commercial representation overseas on 9 October 1946. The first batch of Indian Foreign Service was recruited under the combined Civil Service examination scheme of the UPSC in 1948 joined Indian Foreign Service and this has remained the main recruitment system into IFS to till date.

Here we are giving the gist of IFS training period and the opportunities they are getting in their training period.

Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration

After getting into the Indian Foreign Service through the Civil Services Examination, conducted by UPSC the successful candidates experience a multi-faceted and inclusive training. The probationers begin their training, along with other successful candidates at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration.

Life at the Institute

The diplomats or the Kautilyas of India are shaped and molded perfectly under the supervision of eminent personalities in Foreign Service institute located in South Delhi. The Indian Foreign Service Probationers endure engrossed training in different fields that a professional diplomat needs to acquaint with himself. The course offered to IFS Probationers in the Foreign Service Institute course circumscribe lectures and attachments with diverse divisions of the Government of India as well as acquaintance tours both within the country and abroad.

South Block – the Abode of Diplomats

The Officer Trainees have to spend the initial week meeting the luminaries in the South Block of Secretariat Building after joining Foreign Service Institute. The South Block of Secretariat Building houses the Prime Minister Office, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence. Officer Trainees will have a great experience here where they meet the Honourable External Affairs Minister, Foreign Secretary and Minister of State for External Affairs who will be sharing their several experiences, treasured insights about the augmented role of Indian diplomats in the world.

The officer trainee will also get a golden opportunity to meet the President and the Prime minister of India.

Different Attachment Programs

• Army Attachment

The Indian Army is the largest and strongest component of the Indian Armed Forces. Officer trainees are sent for an army attachment to understand how the Indian army operates.

• Navy Attachment

Officer trainees also get an opportunity to know the functioning of the Navy through Navy attachment. The navy attachment provides their functioning and how the three-dimensional blue water fleet guards the nation.

• Air Force Attachment

Officer Trainees are sent for air force attachment to gain knowledge about the abilities of this colossal wing which protect the Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict.

• Mission Attachment

The main objective of Mission attachment, which is a vital part of IFS training, is to create Officer Trainees aware of the functioning of an Indian diplomatic mission in a foreign country. This orientation program provides the knowledge about the internal organization and applied knowledge of how a Mission works together with the other Diplomatic Missions.

• Multilateral Attachment

To provide officer trainees an exposure to multilateral diplomacy, they are attached to the Permanent Mission of India in New York. Here the officer Trainees get an opportunity to see the functioning of the United Nations.

Also Read | How to become an Ambassador of India (IFS)?

Bharat Darshan: Knowing India

Bharat Darshan is a 21 days tour, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Bharat Yatra to realize the multiplicity of the nation. Bharat Darshan, the all India tour organized yearly to expose Officer Trainees to the multiplicity of our variegated customs, traditions, cultural heritage, and places in India.

Language training

Their language training is conducted according to the country they chose for discharging their function. During the language training in the concerned nation, the officer trainee holds the title of Third Secretaries. The appointment of officer Trainees to a specific division in the ministry rests on the vacancies and requirements.

After completion of three-year training and clearing the language exam the conversion from Officer Trainee to “Diplomat” is concluded with approval as the second secretary. With the skill set acquired in, the groomed diplomat gets ready to represent the country, secure the national interest and foster peaceful relations.

With the expertise set gained in the intensive training process, the prepped diplomats prepare to speak to the nation, secure the national intrigue and cultivate serene relations.

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