The Centre, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, emphasized that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accords the highest priority to the well-being of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers. Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, informed that additional resources have been made available to meet the functional requirements of IFS officers wherever needed, addressing concerns about inadequate housing, limited allowances, and lower incentives for domestic postings.
As of February 1, 2025, the sanctioned strength of IFS ‘A’ officers stands at 1,177, with additional categories such as IFS ‘B’ (2,379), Stenographers’ Cadre (1,209), Other Cadres (1,150), and Local Cadre (3,119). Singh added that the total number of territorial and functional divisions operating within the MEA is 57.
To ensure the well-being of its officers, Singh confirmed that the Ministry had improved the availability of housing in recent years and is pursuing ongoing projects to ensure adequate housing provisions. The MEA is also addressing the feedback from officers posted in India to improve resources and amenities.
In a separate matter, the Ministry also clarified that no Indian Air Force (IAF) or chartered/commercial civilian aircraft has been hired for the repatriation of Indian immigrants from any country since 2020. Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, stated that while the Ministry has not used IAF or civilian aircraft for deportation purposes, in exceptional cases, Indian immigrants facing deportation were assisted through the purchase of tickets on commercial flights.
These updates underscore the Centre’s continued focus on the welfare of its diplomats and the management of repatriation efforts for Indian immigrants abroad.
