India currently has 1,177 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers in service, as disclosed by Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Kirti Vardhan Singh, in Parliament. He revealed this while responding to a query regarding staff vacancies and shortages in Indian missions worldwide.
According to the minister, a total of 6,277 officers and officials, including local staff, are currently deployed across 218 Indian missions and posts abroad. He added that the requirement for manpower varies based on workload and operational needs.
The government informed the Parliament that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) conducts regular reviews of staffing needs at various levels, both at the headquarters and in overseas missions. These reviews help ensure that Indian diplomatic missions remain adequately staffed to meet evolving challenges.
Additionally, the minister stated that 49 IFS officers are currently posted in Indian missions that handle key multilateral organizations. He also mentioned that two Indian Consulates General are presently headed by IFS officers.
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