The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Additional tests mooted for those eyeing an job

NEW DELHI: UPSC should have an additional paper and a specially designed personality test for candidates interested in joining the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Laying out a set of wide-ranging recommendations, the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs has listed out a set of solutions to MEA's biggest bane —shortage of officers.

"A candidate may be allotted IFS if he/she is in the merit list, has cleared the additional paper and obtained a recommendation from the interview board," it says. India has a pool of only 2700 officers who can serve as diplomats, but there are only 770 IFS officers, short of the sanctioned strength of 912.

Foreign secretary S Jaishankar explained that MEA is way behind target in cadre expansion. "The size of India's diplomatic corps is around 2700 against 1250 diplomats in Republic of Korea, 800-850 of Singapore, 1300 of New Zealand, 900 of Italy, 2000 of Brazil, 4500 of China, while Japan's diplomatic corps number 5700." India's diplomatic strength is oneeighth the size of the US. The MEA has, in recent years, redefined who is a diplomat — essentially, anyone who holds a diplomatic passport. That brings India's diplomat strength to 2700.But this seems inadequate for a country whose global footprint and profile is increasing by the day. In its reply to the panel, MEA said it was taking in 30-35 officers every year through UPSC, but this isn't enough.

The panel recommended that NRIs be allowed an opportunity as well, by waiving the Indian language provision for those who have completed more than half of their schooling abroad, but should be required to gain proficiency in one Indian language during probation.

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