Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government is planning to modify its recruitment procedures to introduce lateral entries in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS);
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for the introduction of such a policy and the eligibility criteria envisaged by the Government for including such recruits who have not passed any examination conducted by the UPSC; and
(c) if not, the measures being taken by the Government to fill up the posts that are lying vacant in the Indian Foreign Service?