New Delhi: The Union government on Friday informed Parliament that the total strength of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) stands at 954 officers as of December 1, 2025, with notable representation from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), and women officers.
The information was provided by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Break-up of IFS Officers by Social and Gender Categories
According to the data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) –
- SC/ST officers: 200
- OBC officers: 217
- Women officers: 263
Singh clarified that the MEA does not maintain separate data for officers belonging to minority communities.
“The total strength of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers as on December 1, 2025 is 954. Out of these, the number of SC/ST officers is 200, OBC officers is 217 and women officers is 263,” the minister said.
Representation at Senior Diplomatic Posts Abroad
The MEA also provided details on representation of these categories at senior diplomatic positions abroad, including Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Permanent Representatives (PRs).
- SC/ST category: 26 officers serving as Ambassadors, High Commissioners or PRs
- OBC category: 25 officers holding similar top diplomatic positions abroad
- Women officers: 11 currently serving as Ambassadors, High Commissioners or PRs
These figures underline the presence of socially diverse officers at the highest levels of India’s diplomatic missions.
Senior Positions Within the Ministry
In response to another query, the minister also tabled data on the deployment of IFS officers from SC/ST, OBC and women categories at senior levels within the Ministry of External Affairs.
The figures covered postings at –
- Director
- Joint Secretary
- Additional Secretary
- Secretary levels
The data highlights the government’s continued focus on improving social and gender representation across both overseas diplomatic missions and senior administrative roles within the MEA.
Government Emphasis on Inclusive Diplomatic Representation
The disclosures come amid ongoing discussions on diversity and inclusion within India’s civil services. The MEA’s response reflects efforts to ensure broader representation in the country’s diplomatic corps, including leadership roles abroad and policymaking positions at headquarters.
About IFS
The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is India’s elite diplomatic corps, managing foreign policy, diplomacy, and international relations through officers recruited via the UPSC Civil Services Exam. IFS officers represent India globally, protecting national interests, fostering economic ties, and managing cultural exchanges from embassies, high commissions, and consulates, while also working within the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi. This prestigious Group ‘A’ service offers extensive international exposure, diverse postings, and significant responsibility in shaping India’s global standing, handling tasks from trade negotiations to citizen welfare abroad.
