The government has informed Parliament that there are currently 1,177 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers in India, as stated by Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Kirti Vardhan Singh. He shared this information while addressing a query about staffing shortages in Indian missions globally.
The minister revealed that a total of 6,277 officers and officials, including local staff, are stationed across 218 Indian missions and posts abroad. He highlighted that manpower requirements differ depending on workload and operational priorities.
In its response to Parliament, the government explained that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regularly assesses staffing needs both at the headquarters and in overseas missions. These assessments aim to ensure Indian diplomatic missions are equipped to address evolving challenges effectively.
Furthermore, the minister noted that 49 IFS officers are currently positioned in Indian missions responsible for key multilateral organizations. He also mentioned that two Indian Consulates General are led by IFS officers.
