Overview
- The Ministry of External Affairs returned an earlier I&B plan for 40 IIS postings, citing language gaps and overlap with diplomats’ press work.
- In a scaled proposal, the I&B ministry suggested 10 senior IIS posts in key hubs such as Washington, London, Brussels, Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, Dubai, Canberra, Brasilia and Johannesburg.
- The MEA’s administrative wing may still resist the pilot, with questions about diplomatic immunity if officers also serve as Prasar Bharati correspondents.
- Government sources said IIS officers would drive media outreach and misinformation response to promote India’s growth story, leaving IFS staff to focus on core diplomacy.
- Debate within diplomatic circles continues, with backers pointing to lessons from Covid-19 and Operation Sindoor and critics warning that one-off postings without local knowledge could be ineffective.