The Indian Foreign Service, popularly known as IFS is the administrative diplomatic civil service under Group A and Group B. It is one of the Central Civil Services of the executive branch of the Government of India.
The members of the IFS represent the country in the international territory. The IFS is unlike other civil services as it deals with the country's external affairs like diplomacy, trade and cultural relations. The IFS is responsible for framing the Government's foreign policies and management of Indian missions abroad. Union Public Services Commission will release the notification on 14 February, 2024 and the last date to submit the application form is on 05 March, 2024. UPSC - Indian Foreign Service (IFS) 2024 Mains Exam will be conducted in a Pen and Paper-Based Test mode on 20, 21, 22, 28 & 29 September, 2024. As per the UPSC IAS Exam Schedule 2024, the Civil Services Exam will be held in two sessions every day. UPSC CSE Forenoon session will be conducted from 9AM to 12 Noon and the 2nd Session will be held from 2PM to 5PM. IFS members
Why have an IFS?
UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2024 Exam Date
The nationality of a candidate must be either of the following:
Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam
Candidate should hold a degree from any of the recognised universities or must have an equivalent qualification
Relaxable age limit is as follows:
The maximum number of attempts is as follows:
IFS officers deal with diplomacy, trade and cultural relations of the country
Frequently Asked Questions
Although students from all streams are eligible to become IFS officers, taking related courses like History, Politics, and International Relations will help you do well on the Civil Services Examination.
Each candidate who shows up for the test is given 6 chances. However, candidates from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who are otherwise qualified shall not be subject to the limitation on attempts. 9 attempts are the most that candidates from Other Backward Classes may make.
The first woman to pass the Indian Civil Services exams was Chonira Belliappa Muthamma, popularly known as C.B. Muthamma (24 January 1924 – 14 October 2009). Moreover, she was the first female employee of the Indian Foreign Service. She was also the first lady diplomat from India.
The youngest Indian Foreign Service Officer in India is Abhay Kumar, who achieved rank 167 in 2003.
After IAS, it is the most favored position. Also, every year UPSC posts 17 to 18 openings in this section. In conclusion, there is a lot of competitiveness among the applicants.
Candidates must pass the Civil Services Examination administered by the Union Public Service Commission every year in order to join the Indian Foreign Service. There are three parts to this exam: the preliminary, the main, and the personality test. Those who successfully complete all three exam levels go through training before being able to join the IFS as an officer.
The Civil Services Examination, which is used to choose both IFS and IAS officers, is the same test. Once the UPSC merit list is made public, services and cadres are distributed in accordance with that policy.
Latest Updates
The UPSC has postponed the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Prelims exam scheduled on June 27 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission has announced that the IFS Preliminary will be held on October 10, 2021.
The official notice reads, "Due to the prevailing conditions caused by the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19), the Union Public Service Commission has deferred the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2021, which was scheduled to be held on 27th June, 2021. Now, this Examination will be held on 10th October, 2021."
14 May 2021
The UPSC has released the IFS interview dates 2021. Candidates who have passed with flying colours in the UPSC Mains exam were shortlisted for the final phase of the exam, i.e., interview.
The Commission will be conducting the IFS interview between April 26 and June 18, 2021. It will release the e-summons letters of personality tests (interviews) of the candidates will be available soon on the official website. The air tickets will be reimbursed booked through the Airlines or travel agents.
7 April 2021
The UPSC has released the IFS Mains Exam 2020 result on March 23, 2021. Candidates who have appeared for the IPS Mains examination conducted between January 8 and 17 can visit the official website to check the result.
The UPSC has released the list of candidates shortlisted for the personality test (PT)/ interview. The Commission will begin the interview process in the last week of April. The shortlisted candidates are required to fill up the attestation form online and submit the same online till April 5, 2021.
23 March 2021
The UPSC has released the marks of candidates recommended in the reserve list in Civil Services Main examination 2019. Candidates can check the marks list on the official website at upsc.gov.in.
The UPSC has released IFS reserve list 2019 on January 5 and recommended a total of 89 candidates for the Civil Services taking it to the total number of recommended candidates to 918.
The UPSC will release the Civil Services 2021 Prelims exam notification on February 10.
3 February 2021
The UPSC has released the IFS Mains admit card 2020. Aspirants who were shortlisted for the Civil Services Mains 2020 exam can download their admit card on the official website with their registration number or roll number.
The official notice reads, " The Commission has uploaded the eâ€Admit Cards on its website. The eligible candidates are advised to download their eâ€Admit Cards and take a printout thereof. No paper Admit Card will be issued for this examination by the Commission."
The IFS Mains 2020 exam will be held on January 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17, 2021. The Mains exam result will be declared in March 2021.
18 December 2020