Home » Govt Exams » Indian Foreign Service Exam 2022: Latest News, Eligibility, Salary & Vacancies
The beginning of the IFS is regularly followed back to British standard when the Foreign Department was made to direct business with the ” Foreign European Powers”. In fact, it had been on September 13, 1783, when the Board of Directors of the Malay Archipelago Company passed a resolution at Fort William, Calcutta (now Kolkata), to make a department, which could help “alleviate the pressing factor” on the Warren Hastings organization in leading its “secret and political business”. Subsequently referred to as the “Indian Foreign Department”, it went ahead with the expansion of diplomatic representation, wherever necessary, to guard British interests.
The Indian Foreign Service Exam (IFS) Prelim phase has been postponed thanks to the COVID-19 situation. The exam was scheduled to be conducted on 27th June 2021. Now, it’ll be persisted 10th October 2021.
The officials have released the recruitment notice for IFS 2021 exam. The IFS important dates associated with the exam are as under:
IFS 2021 Exam Events | IFS Important Dates |
The Online application process begins | 4th March 2021 |
The Last Date for online application submission | 24th March 2021 |
Prelim exam admit card | 3 weeks before the exam |
IFS Prelim Exam date | 10 October 2021 |
Prelim exam result | They will announce |
Detailed Application form for the main exam | To be announced |
IFS Main exam admit card | 3 weeks before the exam |
IFS Main Exam date | 27 February – 08 March 2022 |
Main exam result | They will announce |
Interview | They will announce |
IFS exam notifications are available for February and therefore the application forms are available from March. Candidates can apply online mode only via the official website of UPSC. The mode of payment is additionally online. The UPSC has released the tentative dates of the IFS exam 2021.
According to the UPSC calendar, the UPSC prelim exam 2021 will happen on October 10, 2021. They will persist IFS main exam on January 07, 2022.
Tentative Dates of Main Exam 2021: –
Date | Morning Session (9 AM-12 PM) | Afternoon Session (2 PM-5 PM) |
07-01-2022 (Friday) | Paper-I (Essay) | No Paper |
08-01-2021 (Saturday) | Paper-II (General Studies-I) | Paper-III (General Studies-II) |
09-01-2021 (Sunday) | Paper-IV (General Studies-III) | Paper-V (General Studies-IV) |
15-01-2022 (Saturday) | Paper-A (Indian Languages) | Paper-B English |
16-01-2022 (Sunday) | Paper-VI (Optional Paper-I) | Paper-VII (Optional Paper-II) |
Know More – IFS Foreign Recruitment Important Date & Notifications
The IFS application fee is often paid offline ‘by cash’ at any branch of the depository financial institution of India or through online mode using Visa/ RuPay/ Master/ Credit/ open-end credit or Internet Banking of SBI. ‘Pay by Cash’ mode is deactivated at some point before the deadline of application submission. The appliance fee is as under:
Categories | Application Fee Amount |
Female/ SC/ ST/ PwBD | Exempted |
Others | ₹ 100/- |
UPSC offers the facility to withdraw the appliance form for the IFS exam before the exam. They introduced the facility a few years ago as only half the candidates who fill the appliance form, appear for the exam. And, UPSC possesses in touch the costs of conducting the exam. The official website has activated the window for withdrawal of the appliance form.
For withdrawing the IFS form, here are the steps to follow:
Candidates must note that there is no provision for a refund of the appliance fee on withdrawal of the appliance form. As per the official notification, they will not refund the appliance fee under any circumstances.
The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
The identity of an applicant should be :
For the IFS 2021 exam, the candidate must change state, not before 2nd August 1989 and not after 1st August 2000. The age is going to be counted as on 1st August 2021. In other words, the candidate must have attained 21 years aged and must not have attained the age of 32 years.
Relaxation within the age is going to be provided to reserved category candidates as follows:
Categories | Relaxation in Upper Age Limit |
SC/ ST | Up to 5 years |
OBC | Up to 3 years |
Ex-servicemen | Up to 5 years |
Defense Service Personnel (disabled during hostilities & released) | Up to 3 years |
Blindness and low vision/Deaf and Hard of Hearing/ Locomotor Disability including leprosy cured, acid attack victims, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, and muscular dystrophy/ autism, mental illness, intellectual disability, and specific learning disability up to 10 years | Up to 10 years |
Candidates must hold a graduation degree (any discipline) from a recognized institute/ University.
The greatest number of endeavors is as per the following:
There are fewer vacancies for the IFS in comparison to other highly popular services like IAS, IPS, and IRS.
The underneath table records the last position (least position) which got granted the IFS inside the earlier years.
Year | GEN | OBC | SC | ST |
2019 | 113 | 344 | 565 | 654 |
2018 | 134 | 450 | 468 | 603 |
2017 | 152 | 602 | 717 | 616 |
2016 | 208 | 615 | 740 | 922 |
2015 | 157 | 624 | 727 | – |
2014 | 114 | 567 | 756 | 926 |
2013 | 141 | 448 | 621 | 824 |
2012 | 134 | 328 | 659 | – |
2011 | 162 | 360 | 571 | 620 |
2010 | 140 | 283 | 514 | 676 |
2009 | 108 | 285 | 246 | 570 |
2008 | 103 | 257 | 417 | 586 |
As one can see, a candidate must get top ranks to be eligible for Foreign Services. You don’t get to know a far-off language to be eligible for the IFS, although you’ll need to learn one during your training after the choice.
Official Website- https://www.upsc.gov.in
An IFS officer is paid an overall of 60,000 per month. Moreover, they’re given several benefits like accommodation, transportation, medical expenses, and far more. On the opposite hand, a government servant enjoys a pension and lots of retirement benefits. Also, supported the country the officer’s pay package also can get increased. during this case, the salary can go as high as 2.4 lakhs. Also, the very best position one can attain is of the ambassador or the Foreign Secretary.
The salary and perks are quite attractive. Aside from the salary, IFS officers would tend to a Special Foreign Allowance. This sum differs from the nation of posting. For instance, when a replacement officer is assigned to the Indian mission within the USA, he/she can get the US $4000 per month. This allowance increases with the grade.
The below table gives the pay scale for various positions within the IFS.
Post Abroad | Post in India | Pay Scale (as of 7th pay commission) |
Attaché/Third Secretary | Under Secretary | 8000-275-13500 |
Second/First Secretary | Under Secretary | 10650-325-15850 |
First Secretary | Deputy Secretary | 12750-375-16500 |
Director | Counselor Director | 15100-400-18300 |
Minister/DCM Ambassador | Joint Secretary | 18400-500-22400 |
Ambassador/High Commissioner | Additional Secretary | 22400-525-24500 |
Ambassador/High Commissioner | Secretary | 26000 (Fixed) |
IFS officials additionally are given acceptable convenience, family help, official vehicles, safety officers, abroad investigation alternatives, and retirement advantages and benefits.
For detailed information see the ‘Syllabus’ section of this article.
The exam will be led in 2 phases:
The prelim test is likewise called the Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) (400 marks). It includes 2 papers as follows:
Papers | Subjects | Time Duration | Maximum Marks |
Paper-1 | General Studies | 2 hours | 200 marks |
Paper-2 | General Studies | 2 hours | 200 marks |
The officials fixed a written exam and interview test for the Main exam. The written exam consists of 9 papers. All the papers are going to be of conventional essay type. Here is the small print of the papers:
Paper | Subject | Total Marks |
Paper A | One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution | 300 Marks |
Paper B | English | 300 Marks |
Paper-I | Essay | 250 Marks |
Paper-II | General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 Marks |
Paper-III | General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations) | 250 Marks |
Paper-IV | General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 Marks |
Paper-V | General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) | 250 Marks |
Paper-VI | Optional Subject-Paper 1 | 250 Marks |
Paper-VII | Optional Subject-Paper 2 | 250 Marks |
Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 Marks | |
Personality Test | 275 Marks | |
Grand Total | 2025 Marks |
Know More – IFS Foreign Exam Pattern and Syllabus
We are predicting that the officials will release UPSC IFS 2021 admit card by the last week of September. Candidates are going to be ready to download the admit card and take a printout of it.
Competitors will be given an e-Admission Certificate 3 weeks before the date of the exam. Admit Card for Main Exam and Prelim Exams is formed available on the official website.
Following dates are important regarding the UPSC IFS (Prelims) exam admit card for the year 2021-
Events | Dates |
Downloading of UPSC IFS 2021 Admit Card (Prelims) | by Last Week of September 2021 |
UPSC IFS 2021 Prelims Exam Date | 10-Oct-21 |
UPSC IFS 2021 Admit Card (Mains) | TBA |
UPSC IFS 2021 Mains Exam Date | 21st November 2021 (Tentative) |
Know More – IFS Foreign Admit Card
To check IFS results, candidates need to visit upsc.gov.in. Candidates can check their leads to the merit list with the assistance of their roll number. On the idea of the IFS (Prelims) Result, candidates are eligible to seem for the IFS (Main) Exam, 2021. Applicants need to undergo the prelim test, main exam, and interview round for final selection. The ultimate ranking is predicated on the IFS main (written and interview) exam.
UPSC releases the result for the prelim and main exam in merit list form. The applicant’s scores in the respective exam determine their ranks. Ask the dates table provided below to understand more about UPSC IFS result 2021.
Events | 2021 |
Prelim Exam date | 10 Oct 2021 |
Declaration of Prelim Result | To be announced |
IFS (Main) Exam date | 27 Feb – 08 Mar 2022 |
Declaration of Main Result | To be announced |
Know More – IFS Foreign Exam Result & Cut off Marks
Only the UPSC IFS application forms submitted through the online mode are acceptable. Candidates should submit their online applications before the due date. Candidates must submit only one form. However, just in case he has submitted multiple forms, the shape with higher RID is going to be considered by the commission. Thus, confirm that the shape is complete altogether respects for successful registration. For 2021, the appliance process was carried from 4th to 24th March 2021.
Documents required for filling the application:
The UPSC IFS form submission comprises two parts. Candidates are advised to finish both parts for successful application submission. These steps are to be followed:
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Ans. IFS officers work either within the External Affairs Ministry or within the various embassies and consulates that India has across the planet.
Ans. It’s a prestigious job as you’re serving and representing the state. An IFS officer is that the one who represents the state in various countries. So, you ought to mold your personality accordingly. the advantages and perks are very eye-catching but the responsibilities are very stressful.
Ans. However, if you would like to become an IFS officer then, of course, Bachelor’s in Arts would be the simplest option which you’ll have. Humanities include subjects like history, politics, sociology, and diplomacy to which you’ll have access during your graduation.
Ans. An IFS officer can choose any 3 places according to the vacant posts. If he/she is lucky then he/she can get one among the three places of his/her choice.
Ans. Clause 8(1) of the IFS (conduct and discipline) Rules, 1986 says no member of the service shall marry a person aside from an Indian citizen “without the prior permission in writing of the government”.
Ans. The exam is straight but it takes consistency and perseverance through NCERTs then mains answer writing practice to succeed in FSI in Delhi. In short, it’s an excellent career but you would like to make certain that you simply need a globally mobile job otherwise you need a more settled India-focused role.