Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Exam 2024 Date, Eligibility, Syllabus
Indian Foreign Service Exam 2024 notification is out, and the recruitment process for the Indian Foreign Service will commence on June 16. Read on to learn about the IFS Exam 2024 full form, eligibility, salary, and more.
Anil Solonki24 May, 2024
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IFS Exam 2024: The Indian Foreign Service exam is conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as part of the Civil Services Examination process. The IFS Exam 2024 is held in three stages to select the candidates for elite Group ‘A’ foreign service.
Selected officials through the IFS exam work under the diplomatic division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to look after India’s interests abroad. IFS is one of the most popular services among aspirants due to salary, perks, and overseas postings.What is the IFS Full Form in UPSC?
The IFS Full Form in UPSC stands for Indian Foreign Service. It is one of the premier civil services in India, responsible for handling the country's foreign affairs and diplomatic missions. IFS officers work in Indian Embassies, High Commissions, and Consulates abroad, as well as in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. To join this service candidates must clear the IFS Exam 2024 conducted by UPSC in three stages: preliminary exams, main exams, and a personality test. Successful candidates will be allotted Indian Foreign Service based on their rank and preference in DAF.IFS Exam 2024 Overview
Every year, the IFS Recruitment Exam is held at the national level. Candidates need to apply for the UPSC CSE exam and clear the Prelims and Mains stages. Before the interview, they will be required to give their preference for DAF II. To become an IFS officer, candidates must give first preference to it and clear the interview or final stage with a good rank.| IFS Exam 2024 Overview | |
| Particular | Detail |
| IFS Full Form | Indian Foreign Service |
| Authority | Union Public Service Commission |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Type of Service | Group A |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Mode of Exam | OMR/Pen and Paper Based |
| Selection Process |
|
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 years (Relaxable) |
| Number of Attempts | 6 (Relaxable) |
| Negative Marking | Yes ( For Prelims Stage Only) |
| Salary | INR 56,100 to 2,25,000/Month (7th Pay Commission) |
| Training Academy | Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
IFS Exam Date 2024
The UPSC IFS Exam Date 2024 has been released, and the IFS Prelims exam is scheduled for June 16, 2024. Those who clear this qualifying exam will have to appear for the IFS Mains starting on September 20, 2024. IFS Exam Date 2025 is May 25 for Prelims and August 22 for Mains, respectively.| IFS Exam Date 2024 | |
| Events | Dates |
| IFS Notification | 14 February 2024 |
| Registration Dates | 14 February to 5 March 2024 |
| IFS Admit Card | May/June 2024 |
| IFS Prelims Exam | 16 June 2024 |
| Prelims Result | July 2024 |
| IFS Mains Exam | 20 September 2024 onwards |
| Mains Result | To be announced |
| IFS Interview | To be announced |
IFS Exam Application Process 2024
The Indian Foreign Service Exam 2024 registration process was held from 14 February to 5 March 2024, at the official website of the UPSC. The IFS Exam 2024 apply online link is closed; however, candidates can go through the below-mentioned steps to understand the IFS exam registration process: Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. Step 2: Look for the "Examination" tab on the home page. Step 3: Now select "Active Examinations." Step 4: You need to click on the “UPSC Civil Services Examination" option to apply for the IFS exam and click ‘the 'apply' link. Step 5: Complete the UPSC OTR form first. Step 6: Login again and complete the Indian Foreign Service registration form. Step 7: Once accurate information is filled, upload the required documents. Step 8 : Pay the IFS application fee which is INR 100 for General/OBC/EWS(Male) candidates. Review and submit the form in the final stage.IFS Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024
To participate in the IFS Exam 2024 candidates must ensure that they fulfill the requirements set out by UPSC. These requirements typically include educational qualifications, age limits, and nationality criteria, among others. Here is the IFS Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024:| IFS Eligibility Criteria 2024 | |
| Eligibility | Criteria Details |
| Education Qualification | Bachelor's degree from a recognized university or institution. |
| Age Limit |
|
| Nationality Criteria | Only Indian Citizen |
| Number of Attempts |
|
IFS Vacancy 2024
The IFS Vacancy 2024 is released from time to time by the respective ministry based on which the UPSC announces the total number of vacancies for the Civil Service examination. This year total vacancy is 1056 in UPSC CSE. IFS Vacancy 2024 based on the previous data is expected to be around 37. Here is the previous year’s IFS vacancy:| Previous Year IFS Vacancy | |
| Year | Number of Vacancies |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 35 |
| 2021 | 37 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 37 |
IFS Exam Syllabus 2024
The IFS Exam Syllabus for 2024 is mainly divided into Prelims and Mains and covers various subjects. A strong knowledge of the IFS Exam Syllabus 2024 is essential to ace this exam with good scores. The stage-wise syllabus for IFS is as follows:IFS Prelims Syllabus
The IFS Prelims exam consists of two papers of a qualifying nature. Candidates need to score 33% in the CSAT and above the cutoff in the GS paper. There is a negative marking of 1/3 for wrong answers, and the scores are not added to the final merit list.| IFS Exam Syllabus - Prelims | |
| Paper | Syllabus |
| Paper I: General Studies |
|
| Paper II: Civil Service Aptitude Test |
|
IFS Mains Syllabus
In the IFS Mains exam, there are a total of 9 papers; out of these, two are simply qualifying papers with a criteria of 25% marks. The total mark for the remaining 7 papers is 1750 which is added to the merit list. Here is the syllabus for the IFS Mains exam:| IFS Exam Syllabus - Mains | |
| Paper | Syllabus |
| Compulsory Papers |
|
| Essay Writing | Writing 2 informative, descriptive, and persuasive essays on the given topics |
| General Studies (GS) |
|
| Optional Subjects | Choose one optional subject from the list of 48. |
IFS Exam Process 2024
The IFS Exam Process 2024 is a three-stage procedure starting with the prelims, a qualifying stage. Those who clear this stage move on to the next rigorous part of the selection process known as mains. Finally, candidates are selected for the Indian Foreign Service based on their total score in the mains and the interview.| UPSC IFS Exam Process 2024 | ||||
| Stages | Name | No. of Papers | Type of Exam | Marks |
| Stage 1 | IFS Prelims | 2 Papers (Qualifying) | Objective | 400 |
| Stage 2 | IFS Mains | 9 Papers (Merit Based) | Descriptive | 1750 |
| Stage 3 | IFS Interview | (Merit Based) | Personality Test | 275 |
| Final Merit List | UPSC Mains + Interview Marks = 2025 Marks | |||
IFS Exam Question Paper PDF
The IFS Exam Question Paper PDF is a valuable resource for aspirants preparing for the Indian Foreign Service examination. Candidates must have a collection of past question papers to familiarize themselves with the exam pattern, the types of questions asked, and the level of difficulty. Candidates should download the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers for the last 10 years and practice them in real exam-like conditions to achieve the best results. A thorough preparation of PYQs enhances confidence and performance on exam day.IFS Salary 2024
The IFS Salary 2024 starts as per the level 10 pay matrix for junior scale officers. The salary of an IFS officer is inclusive of perks and allowances. Also, their base salary is subject to increments with promotions over time. For IFS officers who are appointed outside India, there is an addition of a special foreign allowance in their monthly salary, which is as follows per rank:| IFS Salary 2024 | |
| Rank | Salary |
| Secretary at headquarters | INR 56,100 to INR 1,77,500 |
| Additional secretary at headquarters | INR 67,700 to INR 2,08,700 |
| Joint secretary at headquarters | INR 78,800 to INR 2,09,200 |
| Directors at headquarters | INR 1,23,100 to INR 2,15,900 |
| Deputy Secretary at headquarters | INR 1,44,200 to INR 2,18,200 |
| Under-secretary at headquarters (Grade II Officer) | INR 1,82,200 to INR 2,24,100 |
| Under-secretary at headquarters (Grade I Officer) | INR 2,25,000 |
IFS Exam 2024 FAQs
Is the Indian Foreign Service exam conducted every year?
Yes. the Indian Foreign Service exam is conducted every year by UPSC.
How many become IFS officers every year?
Around 35 to 37 successful candidates are selected to become the IFS office every year.
At which rank is IFS selected?
Based on the previous year’s service allocation, candidates need to have a rank under 90 to become IFS in the general category.
What is the highest post in IFS?
The highest post in IFS is Foreign Secretary or Ambassador.
How can I become an Indian Foreign Service officer?
To become an Indian Foreign Service officer you need to apply for UPSC CSE and get selected at a top rank.
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