Table of Contents
The Observation
The Problems with Foreign Ministry
- Shortage of Officials
- One of the key limitation that India must overcome is its understaffed and overburdened diplomatic corps.
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS) currently has nearly 850 IFS officers.
- In 2016, India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs expressed alarm at the 15 percent shortage of officers in the foreign service. In 2021, still there is 13 percent shortage.
The Problems with Foreign Ministry
- Need information
“To effectively prepare for rapidly evolving situations, anticipation is key”
- We need to increase the volume of information being captured and processed from as many potential inputs as possible to allow the MEA to improve visibility across its diverse domains.
- US foreign officials have Bureau for Intelligence and Research integrating and coordinating multiple inputs of information. On similar lines India needs, an in-house intelligence analysis unit.
The Problems with Foreign Ministry
- Quick decision making & mobilizing
- MEA needs to empower decision-makers to quickly make informed and well-calibrated decisions as and when needed.
- Once decisions are being executed, it is essential to ensure on-ground presence does not get overburdened or overwhelmed. To do this effectively, the MEA should consider establishing a dedicated quick reaction support unit.
- Note:
- German Foreign Ministry leverages data and AI-based prediction models for policy planning & Research.
- French foreign ministry, for example, maintains a dedicated Crisis and Support Center
- Note:
If you are thinking…
- Why do we need to change? Sab thik chal raha hai..
So, are we not doing anything?
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