There are many posts offered by SSC CGL, one of them is External Affair Assistant under Ministry of External Affairs. There is a lot of misconceptions about this post like what work they have to do? What is the salary package? What location candidates will be posted? A lot of questions are running in your mind while preparing for this post. To clear the air here I have collected bunch of information on MEA, which can help you better with in-depth information on MEA. Of course, this isn’t an easy job as you have to prepare your mindset to be posted in abroad. Your food habits and social life will be affected; you need to learn how to manage your work and personal life. As this job not only provides a good salary but also makes you visit so many countries, interesting right!
Here are some details of the work done and other facilities of External Affair Assistant-
It is an assistant level post in the Ministry of External Affairs. If you are posted as the general assistant, you have to do Clerical or file related work like planning and examining documents to be signed between the nations. In addition to that, you will also be responsible for coordinating between various offices of consulates and the Head Quarter at New Delhi and promoting friendly relations with the receiving states. If you are posted as a cipher, you will do the Coding and decoding work by learning high languages related to national security. This is the only department of SSC CGL where you can get foreign postings also.
There are two posts offered by SSC CGL –
- External Affair Assistant (General) – If you are working as a General Assistant, your job will involve basic clerical and cataloguing work. You need to report to your superiors regarding progress or issues related to your job profile. You would work for 3 years in Delhi and then 3 years in foreign.
- Assistant Cypher– This job profile has more work store for you. As a Cypher Assistant, you would be involved in coding-decoding/ deciphering confidential messages for MEA. This also involves getting to know highly confidential details regarding various events and documents and secures communication coding languages/foreign languages. You would work for 3 years in Delhi and then 6 years in foreign countries.
Educational Qualifications for the post-
- Candidate must have graduation degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Age limit for applying is 20-30 years.
Pay Scale-
- Pay Scale: Rs. 9,300 – 34,800/-
- Grade Pay: Rs. 4,600/-
- Initial Pay: Rs. 9,300/-
- Total Pay: Rs. 13,900/-
You need to score really well in CGL Exam (in Single/ double digits) to get posted in foreign countries, you need to pass the respective (country wise) language proficiency test. Few vacancies and charm of foreign postings makes MEA the most attractive post in CGL Exam unlike CSS, from MEA, South Block, New Delhi to Passport offices to Special Missions in Bangladesh, Embassies in USA (as well as Uganda).
Working Hours-
9 am to 5 pm job and five days working with fixed weekend off.
Assistant get official passport (white color), but not the diplomat’s passport (red color). Still, the official passport is different from normal citizen’s passport (blue color).
Skills required for the job-
Impeccable communication and interpersonal skills to qualify for MEA.
This is one of the most sought after Assistant posts In CGL exam, providing the chance for international postings.
More Details of Job Profile-
1) The main job of an assistant is to assist the IFS officers in their day to day work.
2) Assistants do the filing, noting, drafting and communication work with the head office in India.
3) Planning and examination of documents to be signed between the Nations.
4 Coordinating between various offices of consulates as well from HQ at Home Nation.
6) Promoting friendly relations with the receiving state as also its people, including NRI/PIO.
Promotions-
First Promotion from Assistant to Section Officer (SO) takes 4-5 yrs after clearing departmental exams; otherwise it may take 10-14 yrs on seniority basis.
After US, the promotions are time based as with the IFS cadre. Most Assistants in MEA gets 3 career promotions and retires from Deputy Director Level or at max Director Level.
Transfers and Postings-
Assistant in MEA is not strictly a Delhi only job. On need basis, you can be posted to Regional Passport Offices, but usually there is shortage of staff in Delhi, so it happens only on requirement basis. You need to have really strong political approach to shift to Regional Passport Office on your own convenience (for home state posting etc.).
For foreign posting, you have to choose 5-10 destinations from the list of 60 destinations provided to you by the ministry. However, it would be the ministry who would decide which place has to a lot to you. You can deny the allotted foreign destination but then such denials don’t go well with your seniors as it causes hassles in the effective functioning. Besides, what’s the point in joining MEA and then denying a foreign posting to live in India your entire life?
And yes, you get to live in a 5 star accommodation in case your stay arrangements by ministry get delayed. All your expenses will be provided by government.
Perks and Privileges-
In India, all the perks are same as to that of any other Govt. servant in 4600 Grade Pay. The government accommodation can be availed at MEA flats in Chanakyapuri and Dwarka. Since most MEA employees goes for a foreign posting in every 3 years, the flats are not occupied for long. However, with every posting you need to shift your entire set up with you.
In foreign postings, you will get the best facilities and amenities. You are entitled to get treated in the best hospital in that location, your children go to best American/British International Schools (having money more that of your entire monthly salary in foreign posting). Fully furnished accommodation is provided which is better than the government accommodation provided to any Group A service (IAS/IPS/IRS) officer in India.
Salary-
- While posted in India, it would be the same as that of any 4600 Grade Pay employee posted in Delhi.
- However, while posted abroad, you will get salary in dollars. But, don’t get too excited too soon, the foreign package would be just enough to live an average life there. The foreign salary is calculated on many parameters like cost of living, price index, currency exchange rate etc.
Promotions-
- Promotions are slow after reaching SO. First, because only 8-15 Under Secretary are needed every year. Secondly, all the Stenographer cadre and Cypher cadre are merged with Assistant cadre for promotion.
- You have to work for different environments and usually face a lot of communication problems.
- Many assistants (esp. their families) face insecurities when posted in non-English speaking nation or when posted in hostile location.
- You have to change your eating habits according to the location.
- You social life reduces drastically; especially living far from friends and relatives.
- You are under a lot of pressure from the seniors, since they are IFS officers from UPSC (the best brains in UPSC comes to IFS), they have a lot of pressure and tactics over you. Also, ministers can make you suffer if you don’t follow their orders.
As there is a lot of confusion regarding this post offered by SSC CGL, I hope this article will be useful for those who need information regarding Ministry of External Affair and their work and other facilities if they choose External Affair Assistant post.
Wish you people luck in your future endeavors!
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