3/7/13 [Q] How to become IFS officer (Indian Foreign services) « Mrunal

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[Q] How to become IFS officer (Indian Foreign services)

Gautam asked, i am planning to write cse in 2012 with optionals public ad. andanthropology. To opt IFS on what points should i concentrate more?

and my doubt about job is about the posting place(india or abroad), for what period,in what(embassy or consulate or mea) and permanent missions/deputations to un andother such bodies ?

AnswerYou don’t have to concentrate on any specific thing to get IFS.Once you clear the prelims, you’ll be given the mains application form by UPSC.In mains application form, you’ve to give service preference (eg. IAS>IPS>IFS>IRSwhatever you like)After you get a decent score in mains, you’ll be called for interview, finally your

mains+interview marks are combined, and a merit list is prepared.You’ll be allotted to a service depending on 4 factors combined,1. Your preference in the mains form2. Your merit number (+reservation if applicable)3. the vacancies in the given service.4. Medical checkupThat’s all.

Now, some people believe (and spread rumors) that to become an IFS officer (Indian Foreign services)1. You need to select a specific optional subject (like political science & international relations),2. You need to be Post-graduate from a specific stream or a reknowned college (DU, Stephen’s,Xavier etc)3. You need to write the exam in English, you need to give interview in English etc.etc.None of above is true. All baseless rumors and lies.

Let me quote Hindustan Times article

Last year (2008), a group of candidates with Hindi as their first language made the cut at the civil services exams, and were selectedfor the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).English is not their strong point and they answered their papers in Hindi, one of the languageoptions available to a candidate. So, for the first time, English is being taught to these six or so young IFS probationers at theForeign Service Institute (FSI), Delhi.

In short, Exam remains one and same for everyone and every service offered by UPSC’s civil service exam. Your selection basicallydepends on your service preference+ merit number.Same way to become an IPS officer, one doesn’t need to be extremely physically fit athlete / State or national Sports champion /Post-graduate in forensic science or criminology.

Your second question :Job profile of IFS: Copy pasting from another article put on this site:

After the training at Mussoorie, the I.F.S. probationers are attached to the Ministry of External Affairs and have to becomeconversant in a major foreign language. During the second year they are appointed as Third Secretaries in and Indian Embassy/HighCommission where that language is spoken. They spend another two years in the same Embassy as Second Secretaries. After twopostings abroad, the I.F.S. Officers are posted in India in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) (Eg. Passport office or IndianCouncil for Cultural Relations or elsewhere in the Government of India). In the MEA, you will look after India’s political, economicand commercial work. In the Senior Scale and the Junior Administrative Grade the I.F.S. Officers are appointed as First Secretaries.In the Selection Grade I.F.S. Officers serve as Counsellors. In very small countries the Indian Ambassador would be in that grade.In the supertime scale, many I.F.S. Officers become Ambassadors of medium sized countries while others are appointed asMinisters in the large embassies like Washington and Moscow. In the Additional Secretaries Grade, I.F.S. Officers are madeambassadors in relatively big embassies of Deputy High Commissioner in London. The biggest Indian Embassies / HighCommissions like Moscow, Washington and London are headed by Ambassadors of the rank of Secretary. At this level, someAmbassadors are non I.F.S. Officers like politicians, retired or serving I.A.S. Officers or retired Defence Chief. There are four tofive Secretary level officers in the MEA – the senior most being the Foreign Secretary.The content of an I.F.S. Officer’s work has improved immensely. The is considerable economic work to be done to promote tradeand commerce. The career development in the service is extremely professional.

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53 comments to [Q] How to become IFS officer (Indian Foreign services)

ashishReply to this comment

@mrunal: nice reply…i just wanna ask about the language of interview…we choose it or it's the same as of our mains exam?

blamelessnogReply to this comment

Like!

Mrunal Patel || �ૃણાલ�પટ�લReply to this comment

@Ashish,

Explained here on following linkhttp://mrunal-exam.blogspot.com/2011/01/q-interview-language-should-be-same-as.html

AdarshReply to this comment

heyy mrunal!!!could you tell me if i have a caste certificate of obc signed and stamped by zila adhikari, do i need to verify the caste certificate fromsome higher authority before applying for upsc exam?

BharathiReply to this comment

one doubt ..y people r confusing indian foreign service with indian forest service by pointing it as IFS..i want to study indian foreignservice..if we pass prelims will they ask for which category we have to apply like for indian foreign service or forest/

Mrunal Patel || �ૃણાલ�પટ�લReply to this comment

@Bharathi,For IFoS (Forest service) UPSC holds a seperate exam, in which only graduates from engineering and science background are allowed tosit.

UPSC hold CSE (civil service exam) and in that one of the jobs offered, is IFS (Foreign service). So one cannot become Indian Forestservice officer by applying in CSE.

prevalenciaReply to this comment

Mrunal, you say that the person will "have to become conversant in a major foreign language".Is this language decided by the Ministry, or do you we have any choice of languages?For instance, I am fluent in French, and I'd like to use it as my preferred language.

parvezReply to this comment

it’s completly based on your interst

Mohar BoseReply to this comment

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i want to know can i be posted in middle east if i ask for posting there? like doha or dubai? is it possible??? like i am planning to startlearning arabic too.

NinaadReply to this comment

Dear Mrunal, i've cleared prelims & have few questions before filling mains form. pl take time to reply my queries.1. Do we need to fill another form for interview in case declared successful in mains exam or would we be interviewed on the basis of infowe provide now? Asking this because i feel i need some more time to ponder over the interests & hobbies i wish to declare consideringthat in interview i'll be judged on variety & depth of my interests. 2. Do i need to enclose attested copies of certificates ofawards/scholarships/sports achievements also alongwith certificates of age & educational qualifications?3. in case i choose english as medium of my mains examination and hindi as my interview language do i need to speak entirely in hindi orif a couple of english words/sentences be permissible? can it prove to be any kind of disadv.?4. I come from Haryana & know nothin much abt services other than IAS, IPS & IFS. Wht specific factors, u suggest, to consider beforefillin pr

Mrunal Patel || �ૃણાલ�પટ�લReply to this comment

@Ninaad,go through the discussions at following forum and you'll get all your answers

http://www.indianofficer.com/forums/mains-general-discussions/

RoshanReply to this comment

I am planning to appear for the CSE 2012. Can someone please guide me how do I go about it (step by step if possible) – where to collectforms? what documents? etc…thanks

The Question MarkReply to this comment

Is it true that there are very few IFS positions available each year? And if you give IFS as a preference, they will not consider you for IASetc because you gave IFS as perference, even if your rank is good?

ankita agrawalReply to this comment

pleas tell me about all pre and mains syllabus and how to select subjects for ifs (indian forieng services).

ADARSH

Reply to this comment

Dear SirPl z give me details of INDIAN FOREIGN SERVICE COLLEGES..

harshna prasadReply to this comment

sir i wnt some information about job profile of indian foreign officer and the exam pattern or study material for cse .

imnapokyimReply to this comment

i’ve no exprience in any field after my graduation but do i have the eligibality to appear for it

MrunalReply to this comment

yes any one can appear in UPSC civil service exam, if he is a college graduate and within the age and trial limit.

griva vyasReply to this comment

ur answer is very good:)bt i want 2 ask 1 quest i.e. from where i can do the ifs exam preparation class so that i can score goodmarks……….what’s d procedure:)

kokil kumar mahanta goswami

3/7/13 [Q] How to become IFS officer (Indian Foreign services) « Mrunal

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Reply to this comment

I would like to know about the latest study kit or preparation for various upsc exam (like ias, ifs, ifs,irs, scra.)

padukoneReply to this comment

i find your site extremely user-friendly and effective. i recently made up my mind to sit for the ifs exam next year. do you think i will beable make through the prelims in this span with the study material on your site as a guide-will it be enough? if not, what else do i need toresort to as i don’t want to leave any gaps as far as my prep is concerned.also i don’t want to confuse with too many reference points.please advice on that and put in the links that will suffice without landing in a soup. kindly answer to that. looking forward to your replyASAP.thanks

MrunalReply to this comment

To become IFS (Foreign Service), you’ll have to appear for UPSC Civil Service Exam.Start with this article:

http://mrunal.org/2012/11/strategy-upsc-civil-service-exam-ias-ips-csat-general-studies-part1.html

VikasReply to this comment

As per CSE-2011 results what is the last rank in general category for getting into Indian Foreign Service?

GANESHReply to this comment

In i get job in india foreign service. Can they send to abroad for service like america europe south america mexico. Should i know theirlocal language If i know language like spanish, Would they send me in mexico at which spanish language is used.

MrunalReply to this comment

1. yes2. during IFS training they’ll teach you foreign languages.

VIDYUT SAKLANIReply to this comment

What particular should we choose to become an IFS officer?Can a ecology and computer student become an IFS officer ?

unnikrishnanReply to this comment

Hello Mrunal,I have done my graduation in BA English Literaure and i want to know how can i start my preperation for IFS exam,when ican apply for it.what to study for prelims and after that for mains.pls give me a reply.

MrunalReply to this comment

Start with this article: http://mrunal.org/2012/11/strategy-upsc-civil-service-exam-ias-ips-csat-general-studies-part1.html

diehardaspirantReply to this comment

HI MRUNAL, I HEARD ABOUT IFS OFFICERS THAT THEY GET DOUBLE SALARY WHEN THEY WERE POSTED ABROAD.IS IT TRUEOR NOT?

Mrunal

Reply to this comment

They’re given extra salary depending on the cost of living of a particular country.

unnikrishnanReply to this comment

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Reply to this comment

Thanks Mrunal,i wnt to ask 1 more qst…my mother tounge is malayalam and am not that much fluent in english,then how can i managethis situation,can i write xam in malayalam..and what about the interview?pls help.

Vijay Dinanath ChauhanReply to this comment

u can give interview in malayalam. they’ll arrange 4 a translator during interview.

unnikrishnanReply to this comment

thanks for the help.

unnikrishnanReply to this comment

thanks..

Farhad golamReply to this comment

please ,tell me what type of question they give in exam ….?and which language?

VIDYUT SAKLANIReply to this comment

CAN A COMMERCE STUDENT BECOME AN IFS OFFICER??

MrunalReply to this comment

For commerce studentaccording to UPSC rules,IFS=Indian Foreign Service=yes he can applyIFoS=Indian Forest Service= No he cannot apply.

sally jacsonReply to this comment

well i wanted to ask that can i choose place for going forign. i also wanted to know that how much money do we get being an ifs

loganathanReply to this comment

sir , i am loganathan, i am doing bsc(computer science) final year , i ask to you i am eligible for IFS examinations. and how can i firstapply this examination pls tell him sir

loganathanReply to this comment

sir , i am loganathan, i am doing bsc(computer science) final year , i ask to you i am eligible or not for IFS examinations. and how can ifirst apply this examination pls tell him sir

sunil mehtaReply to this comment

please some body reply suppose one clears upsc exam and alloted indian foreign service(IFS) and he has attempts left to sit for upscexam …will he be able to write the exam undergoing the training for ifs and so oon till he has attemps left .sunil 07381102756bhubaneswar odhisamrunal sir please reply

CaarteyReply to this comment

It is clearly stated in notification that

“A candidate who is appointed to the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Foreign Service on the results of an earlier

3/7/13 [Q] How to become IFS officer (Indian Foreign services) « Mrunal

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“A candidate who is appointed to the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Foreign Service on the results of an earlierexamination and continues to be a member of that service will not be eligible to compete at this examination.”

By appointment they mean the order you will get after final service allotment around JULY few months after final rank list…You can attempt again for all other services but not IAS or IFS…

BRIJMOHANReply to this comment

i want to know about ifswhat must be aligiblitywhere is its istitutecan i do this service after graduationbecause i am doing graduationi have histoy.political. Englishi like be ifs

please help methis is my mobile no 9805827008

MrunalReply to this comment

To become an IFS officer, You’ve to apply for UPSC civil service exam after you’ve completed the graduation.

pooja sharmaReply to this comment

hello sir,i am doing bsc mlt .am i eligible for ifs exam and from where i get the stdy material for the preparation of exam

PrateekReply to this comment

I am doing LLB(Hons.)IPR,I am interested to chose the Law along with International relations/Public Administration as the optional subjectsin the mains exam UPSC (preferably IFS)? Whether the Law subject will be scoring or not ? Kindly suggest proper subject combinationwith law to get good score of marks.regards

SayoniReply to this comment

what subjects do we have to study to become an I.F.S. Officer?

SayoniReply to this comment

what is the cut off % of lal bahadur shastri national academy of administration,Mussoorie?

AbhipshaReply to this comment

sir, i am in class 11 ,wants to become an IFS officer could you help me sir , what will be the best stream after class 12 ?

NikReply to this comment

Abhipsha ji,You should choose a stream which you like. Taking a stream keeping in mind UPSC is a good thought but it is not the totality in it.After your graduation, you should at least have a backup plan, because UPSC is an Unknown Territory. I am not trying to shakeyour confidence but still, being realistic is fairly good!

prabhakarReply to this comment

dear Mrinal,thasnks for valuable info. i have a query –what is the last rank required in CSE Mains to get IFS rank in general catagory?

AliReply to this comment

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hello sir,

I am veterinarian, doing masters & get selected in ifs, how i should prepare for interview, this is my first attempt and i never face interview.please give some suggestion if i join some coaching.

SARATHReply to this comment

what course can i Select for +1 if i wish to take IFSie;which course is best to take?I am currently doing 10th CBSE and I expect Full A1I am fluent in English and have been 4 times the “knight of the English order of our school”

I am thinking about moving to state syllabus in +1 because of financial problems