The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is a highly sought-after career path for many ambitious individuals in India. Achieving a position in the IFS is no small feat - it requires passing the challenging UPSC civil services exam. Once a part of the IFS, individuals have the opportunity to represent India in diplomatic missions across the globe, and even ascend to the position of ambassador. This article delves into the fascinating history of the Indian Foreign Service.
The inception of the IFS can be traced back to September 13, 1783. On this day, the Board of Directors of the East India Company passed a resolution at Fort William in Calcutta. This resolution led to the formation of a department dedicated to conducting “secret and political business”. At the helm of India's governance was Warren Hastings, the then Governor-General. The newly formed department was christened the Indian Foreign Department, with its primary goal being to expand diplomatic representation and safeguard British interests.
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Significant changes were made under the governance of Governor-General Ellenborough in 1843. The Government Secretariat was divided into four departments - Foreign, Home, Finance, and Military. The Foreign department's Secretary was tasked with managing “all correspondence relating to the external and internal diplomatic relations of the government”. It is important to note that the government at that time distinguished between ‘foreign’ and ‘political’ powers. The term 'political' was used to refer to Asiatic powers including India's princely states, while 'foreign' referred to European powers.
The Government of India Act, 1935, led to the establishment of a separate External Affairs Department, which was directly overseen by the Governor-General. The concept of a standalone department for external affairs was first suggested in a note by Lieutenant-General T J Hutton, the Secretary of the Planning and Development Department. Sir Olaf Caroe, the then Foreign Secretary, responded to this note with a detailed explanation of the proposed service's scope, composition, and functions.
The Indian Foreign Service, as we know it today, was officially established in September 1946. It was created to handle India’s diplomatic, commercial and consular representation overseas. Post-independence in 1947, the new Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations was established. Recruitment for this prestigious service was conducted through the UPSC exam, and the first batch of officers was recruited in 1948.
Further reading | Comprehensive Guide to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
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