Question : Vacant Posts of Diplomats

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be please to state:

(a) the category-wise and country-wise number of Indian Ambassadors/High Commissioners functioning in foreign countries;

(b) the country-wise number of vacant posts of the Ambassadors/High Commissioners along with the time by which these posts are likely to be filled up including the dates since when these posts have been lying vacant;

(c) the number of Ambassadors/High Commissioners belonging to Indian Foreign Service and Indian Administrative Service separately;

(d) the number of Ambassadors/High Commissioners currently posted abroad who are from private sectors and not from any specific category of the Government Service;

(e) whether the Ministry is recruiting experts from related fields of International Relations as consultants on contract basis to reduce work pressure on IFS officers; and

(f) if so, the details in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) As on date, 87 Ambassadors, 27 High Commissioners and 5 Permanent Representatives in the rank of Ambassador are posted in 114 countries abroad.

(b) Eight posts of Ambassadors are vacant in the following countries:

i. Ethiopia - vacant since January 2016
ii. Fiji - vacant since December 2015
iii. Ivory Coast - vacant since February 2016
iv. Mozambique - vacant since February 2016
v. Nigeria - vacant since January 2016
vi. Romania - vacant since February 2016
vii. Tajikistan - vacant since February 2016
viii. Zimbabwe - vacant since March 2016

The process of appointment of Ambassadors is currently underway. These vacancies are expected to be filled shortly.

(c) Currently there are 112 Ambassadors from the Indian Foreign Service and 1(one) from the Indian Administrative Service.

(d) At present, there are no Ambassadors/High Commissioners from private sectors. One retired officer each from Indian Air Force and Indian Police Service are serving as Ambassadors in Norway and Saudi Arabia respectively.

(e) & (f) With the expansion of India’s global engagement and role, Ministry of External Affairs considers optimization of human resources on priority basis. Consultants have been engaged in the Ministry with the objective of bringing in identified expertise in relevant fields to fulfill the mandate of the Ministry.