Whispers Forum

Apropos a write-up published on 10th February 2025 in Money Control News titled ‘Is Sitharaman doing an Elon Musk’ regarding reduced budget of External Affairs Ministry, to the tune of almost Rs. 3,600 Crore less and for next year another Rs. 5,300 crore less. The reduction in budgetary allotment seems in order as there was exorbitant amount being spent on avoidable expenditure.
A huge part of MEA expenditure is being met from public exchequer, be it for expense on a Diplomat’s children education abroad in expensive international schools or on medical expense or on movement of container load of household goods every time a Diplomat moves from one station to another together with members of his family. There are many other such expenditure being meted out from the public fund and surprisingly the individual’s matching contribution is very meagre – say from 0.12% to 5% maximum that too only for education and hospitalization respectively. Some formula of a single package payable to a Diplomat should be evolved to curtail such avoidable expenditure on diplomat and members of his family abroad. A Diplomat may if he or she takes along his or her members of family abroad then bear the expense towards schooling and medical, in say, 50 : 50 ratio.
Roughly an expenditure to the tune of around Rs. 2 Crores on a single MEA official on one 3-years posting abroad is incurred, which includes apart from basic salary, components like payment of foreign allowance, medical expenses, payment of school fees in expensive International Schools abroad for up to two children, container load of household goods up to 4,800 kgs, emergency passage, children holiday passage, rentals on fully furnished accommodation abroad, plus expense towards maintenance of garden, purchase of consumables and other maintenance work for residences.
Not out of place to mention that most of the work of the Embassies in many Stations is carried out by the locally recruited employees owing to ‘language issues’ and in fact for all spheres of work, India-based diplomats and staff are totally dependent on the locally recruited employees. Such Embassies spread across the world could easily be managed with the presence of just 2-3 Foreign Service officers from India to supervise the functioning of the locally recruited employees and run the show, instead of posting hundreds of India-based MEA employees abroad together with their family. Handsome salaries are paid to maintain cost of living abroad. It is rather absurd in the sense that school education, medical expenses, exemption from payment of local tax or income tax, subsidized fuel rates and beverages and last but not the least expenditure towards furnished accommodation are all taken care of by the Government, then where is the cost incurred by individual diplomat for maintaining living standards abroad? The exorbitant allowances being paid just for purchasing of vegetables and groceries look humorous. For that matter, even the groceries are brought in bulk using container load cargo for one and a half years till mid-term home leave (at government expense) and then stocked again for the rest of the tenure. Where is the expense which necessitates payment of huge amount in perks and allowances? If a sort of package is fixed per month to cover all such expense, there is going to be huge savings from public fund.
Many of the countries allow only the Member of the Mission and spouse to accompany to postings and if at all children are taken, then the school fee is borne by the concerned Diplomat and so is the expenditure on medical treatment, etc. Even in India, there are many multi-national companies (MNCs) which do not allow for expensive children education abroad when their employees go abroad for work. Even private sector employees going on posting abroad are not provided such luxuries as in MEA and instead some package is evolved and similar practice should be developed for Government officials going on posting abroad even.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 which is followed by all Diplomatic Missions do not speak about the educational facilities and comforts extended to the children of Members of Mission in so-called expensive International Schools. The Convention mentions about the immunities, privileges and exemption from payment of customs duties on household goods and payment of local taxes etc. which is an added advantage.
The diplomatic affairs can be run with much less expense than the present arrangement and it is reiterated that taking along members of family abroad with the official, which is the main source of outflow of huge funds - be it towards enormous cargo, school fees or medical expenditure or air fares on transfer, mid-term home leave, children holiday passage, emergency, etc. should be stopped forthwith and similar such timely corrective actions further needs to be taken by the Ministry of Finance and thereby save on our expenditure from Public Fund.
MEA is staffed with just about 850 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers tasked with formulating and executing foreign policy across 193 embassies and consulates worldwide. While the annual intake of IFS officers has increased in recent years, it remains grossly inadequate and more and more career diplomats should be recruited and the savings from public exchequer from above curtailment or proposed package of matching grant can very well balance the recruitment of more Indian diplomats, with taking of members of family made voluntary subject to sharing of equal expense towards payment of school fee and medical expenses in 50 : 50 ratio, thereby enormously saving expenditure from Public Fund.
Subbiah Sridhar

Institutions like the ICMR are trusted for scientific advice to the public. Its advice on jalebi & samosa is well taken, even though even these humble eats are “luxury” for the poor. Blocking their market in the name of science would be anti-commerce for the nation as millions of hands (both men & women) are gainfully engaged on them (more than on tobacco). More than that it would destroy a unique Indian Food Technology Virasat seriously. Poor quality ingredients should not be blamed for harmful effects of a final product of common consumption, samosa, jalebi, gulab jamun or others on the list of special instructions. I know that eating chocolates, biscuits etc is dangerous for health in comparison to gulab jamun or jalebi. Some brand names deserve to be catalogued by the ministry of food processing for technological archives and research. Beria ki desi ghee jalebi (Pratapgarh-Raj), Mava Mishri (Kota-Raj) or Valushayee/Gulab Jamun/Imarti (Karauli-Raj). Isn’t Golgappa a technological marvel of the food industry?
M L Gupta

As per reports, the Department of Administrative Reforms &Public Grievances is hiring consultant to introduce reforms in bureaucracy. I am per se opposed to the idea. Especially so, when the recommendations of the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC-2) remain unimplemented since January 2007. As a result, the bureaucracy remains inefficient, laid-back resulting in poor public grievances redressal mechanism. We remember the veterans for pro-activism, high ethical standards and the ability to stand up for their beliefs. Not any longer. Reasons :Flawed selection criteria and not following good administrative practices. The policy-makers may revisit their decision of hiring private consultant and consider following suggestions, among others.
(a) The bureaucratic structure is top-heavy, multi-layered and unwieldy. The bureaucratic cholesterol clogs the wheel of decision-making. Rightsizing bureaucracy by chopping off the deadwood is absolutely necessary. This is not being done;
(b) Introduce accountability, transparency and delegation of authority;
(c )Out-sourcing non-sensitive jobs to contractual appointees to speed up public services delivery mechanism, as against creating additional posts as permanent liability,
(d)The post-retirement placements should be banned. No extension or re-employment beyond superannuation. Exceptions could be made, in special circumstances with approval of the Cabinet committee on Appointments headed by the Prime Minister.
(e)The above suggestions, if implemented, will merely provide band-aid to reform bureaucracy. Reforms in the recruitment process are also needed. Going forward, for attracting the best talent through the civil services, examinations, the eligibility age limits should be pegged between 21 and 24 years. Further, the total number of attempts for appearing in the examinations should not exceed three (as in the past). Suitable relaxations should be provided to help the deprived sections. Also, there should be a minimum qualifying standard prescribed by the UPSC for the personality tests (interviews).This will make the assessment holistic.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

The relevance of study of International Relations is felt, in general, in fields such as policy analysts and journalism in this increasingly globalized society. In particular, for a career in diplomacy, the relevance of study of international relations cannot be undermined and hence basic graduate or postgraduate level study of international relations should be made mandatory for an even more successful diplomatic manoeuvre.
Like in the case of a career in any of the other elite Services, such as Indian Economic Service (IES) or Indian Statistical Service (ISS) a candidate has to possess a postgraduate degree in Economics or Applied Economics or Econometrics or Business Economics. For pursuing a career in Indian Engineering Service (IES) a candidate is required to have an Engineering Degree to appear in IES as also clear specific examination conducted by Institution of Engineers. Similarly, for a career in Indian Forest Service (IFS), a degree in agriculture, forestry or engineering is essential.
On similar lines, the qualification required compulsorily for a career in diplomacy viz., the Indian Foreign Service, should be a minimum degree or post graduate study in international relations as the study embodies a critical perspective and has broad areas of focus that enable one to go deeper into the field of diplomacy as also provide a comprehensive understanding of global politics. Without a thorough knowledge of the ongoing global political events the gap that might arise during the course of one’s diplomatic career owing to lack of knowledge of international affairs, can prove detrimental.
Moreover, there are several other reasons which makes the study of international relations highly relevant for diplomacy. In today's interconnected world, events and developments in one part of the globe can have significant repercussions elsewhere. Understanding international relations helps diplomats comprehend global dynamics, identify opportunities, and navigate challenges. Secondly, knowledge of international relations is crucial for navigating the complex web of economic relationships. As the nation continues to integrate into the global economy, diplomats need to understand trade policies, economic alliances, and global economic trends to promote our economic interests. Issues such as terrorism, cyber threats, and regional conflicts have a global dimension. A solid understanding of international relations is essential for diplomats to engage with other nations in addressing security challenges, formulating joint strategies, and promoting regional stability.
Diplomacy often involves negotiations and dialogue. A comprehensive understanding of international relations equips diplomats with the skills to negotiate effectively, build alliances, and represent nation's interests on the global stage. Then there is the soft power projection such as cultural diplomacy, vaccine diplomacy, educational exchange programs, and promoting Indian arts and culture which are all integral components of soft power. An understanding of international relations helps in leveraging soft power to enhance India's image and influence globally. India actively participates in various international organizations such as the United Nations, BRICS, G20, and others. Each and every diplomat is equally required to navigate these multilateral forums effectively, understanding the intricacies of international relations to advocate for our position and contribute to global governance.
Issues such as climate change, pandemics, and environmental concerns need to be urgently addressed and can only be resolved with a collective approach and as such require international cooperation. Indian diplomats, armed with knowledge in international relations, can engage in collaborative efforts to address global challenges that transcend national borders.
Understanding the dynamics of South Asian and neighbouring regions is crucial for India's foreign policy. Knowledge of International Relations helps Indian diplomats navigate regional complexities, foster cooperation, and address conflicts effectively. With the increasing role of technology in shaping international relations, diplomats need to engage in technology and innovation diplomacy. This involves managing issues related to cybersecurity, digital trade, and emerging technologies, which have global implications. The study of international relations provides insights into human rights issues and international law. Diplomats well versed with international relations can engage in discussions on these topics, advocate for human rights, and contribute to the development and adherence to international legal frameworks.
In summary, the study of international relations is rather absolutely essential for a successful career in diplomacy as it provides the necessary tools and insights to navigate the complex, interconnected global landscape and advance nation's interests on the world stage. It is high time, selection process for a career in diplomacy is pruned and segregated with a separate examination pattern, if possible, based on a thorough study of international relations, just on the lines of selecting candidates for Indian Economic Service, Indian Statistical Service, Indian Engineering Service, Indian Forest Service, etc.
Subbiah Sridhar