Archive · 9 Oct 2026
India Marks IFS Day, Highlighting Diplomats’ Roles and Responsibilities
India marked Indian Foreign Service Day on October 9.
The day remembers the creation of the service in 1946.
Indian diplomats work in other countries and at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.
They speak for India and help protect the country’s interests.
They also help Indians abroad and build friendly relationships with other countries.
Diplomats report important developments and negotiate agreements.
Their work can include trade, culture and cooperation with international organisations.
New officers receive training and learn a foreign language for their work.
India observed Indian Foreign Service Day on October 9, marking the service’s establishment in 1946.
The Indian Foreign Service supports India’s diplomatic, consular and commercial representation through more than 200 overseas missions and posts and the Ministry of External Affairs.
Diplomats represent India, protect national interests, report on host-country developments, negotiate agreements and provide consular services.
Their work also covers trade and investment, cultural ties, media relations and multilateral engagement.
New officers train at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration and the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, and study an assigned foreign language.
- Who
- Indian Foreign Service officers; External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also marked the occasion.
- What
- India observed Indian Foreign Service Day and highlighted the service’s duties, career paths and training.
- When
- October 9; the service was established in 1946.
- Where
- Across India’s overseas missions and posts and at the Ministry of External Affairs headquarters in New Delhi.
- Why
- To commemorate the establishment of the Indian Foreign Service and recognize its work representing India and serving its people.
- Indian Foreign Service Day
- Observed on October 9.
- Service established
- 1946; the article says it was created in September and commemorated on October 9.
- Overseas presence
- More than 200 missions and posts abroad.
- First examination-recruited batch
- Joined in 1948 through the Union Public Service Commission’s combined Civil Services Examination.
- Diplomatic training
- Specialised training takes place at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service in New Delhi.
- Foundation training
- New recruits attend the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie.
- Foreign-language requirement
- Officers are assigned a compulsory foreign language and must achieve proficiency before confirmation.