About Indian Foreign Service

About Indian Foreign Service 

What is IFS Exam? 

The Indian  Foreign Service 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. 

Eligibility Criteria 

1) Nationality: 

Nationality of a candidate must be either of the following: 

• Citizen of India 

• Subject of Nepal 

• Subject of Bhutan 

• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962 for permanent settlement in India.

•  Migrant from any of the following countries for permanently settling in India: Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam 

2) Educational Qualification: 

Candidate should hold a degree from any of the recognized universities or must have an equivalent qualification 

3) Age Limit : 

• Minimum age 21 years 

• Maximum age 30 years as on 1st of August in the year of examination. 

Relax able age limit is as follows: 

• Up to max. 5 years for SC/ST candidates. 

• Up to max. 3 years for OBC candidates. 

• Up to max. 5 years for candidate from the State of Jammu & Kashmir 

• Up to max. 5 years for Defense Services personnel 

• Up to max. 5 years for Ex-servicemen including Commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least 5 years Military Service and have been released. 

• Up to max. 5 years for ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of 5 years of Military Service. 

• Up to max. 10 years for Blind, deaf-mute and Orthopedic ally handicapped persons 

4) Number of attempts: 

The maximum number of attempts is as follows: 

• General Category Candidates: 4 attempts 

• Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) candidates: No restriction 

• Other Backward Class candidates: 7 attempts