What it does: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) handles India’s foreign relations, as well as representing the country at the United Nations.
Best known for: The MEA is responsible for upholding a positive image of India in the international community.
Staff stats: more than 11,000 employees
The good bits: Most entry-level jobs at the MEA only require a degree from a recognized university. Aside from a monthly salary, interns enjoy the benefit of being familiar with foreign policy implementation.
The not-so-good bits: A promotion takes at least five years for some entry-level roles such as assistants. The MEA also hires a limited number of interns every year (ie up to 30 people for each term).
The MEA used to be known as the Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations, which was a holdover agency from the British Raj. Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru became its first minister after the agency was renamed to the MEA in 1948.
Since 1964, the government of India has designated the ministry role to an appointed individual. Aside from primarily overseeing India’s foreign relations, the MEA also handles consular, passport, and visa services.
The gender ratio for internships at the MEA is usually 50:50 for men and women. The government agency also focuses on hiring people from underprivileged districts, including areas in the Transformation of Aspirational Districts Programme.
In terms of work-life balance, most people clock in at 9 a.m. and leave the office by 5:30 p.m. Some insiders said that working at the MEA can be boring at times, particularly because of monotonous tasks.
In 2012, the MEA sparked controversy with its visa outsourcing contract for Indian nationals assigned to Canadian and U.S. missions. They allegedly had to spend more money because of higher service fees.
The MEA awards 150 scholarships every year as part of the Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children. The initiative provides students with up to US$4,000 per year for school expenses.
The government agency also assisted overseas Indian nationals through the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). As of 2021, more than 260,000 people have benefited from ICWF.
Freshers will thrive at The MEA if they have a genuine desire to learn more about India’s foreign relations policies and strategies
While there are plenty of ways for freshers to join the MEA, most people apply for jobs via Union Public Service Commission or Indian Foreign Service exams. The government agency also recruits interns twice every year (January to June, July to December).
The MEA encourages freshers to apply online for internships. They need to pass a preliminary screening and personal interview to become interns. The initial screening looks at a candidate’s academic performance and graduation exams.
Those who move on to the personal interview should prepare for questions about their background, MEA’s projects, and current events related to India’s foreign relations.
Applicants need to pass two tests that are divided into two tiers. Tier 1 will test a person’s English comprehension, general awareness, numerical aptitude, and reasoning skills.
Candidates must pass the first test before taking the Tier 2 exam. This part will further evaluate their arithmetical abilities and English language skills. Successful candidates must pass background checks (Intelligence Bureau, police verification) before joining the MEA.
The MEA shortlists candidates for other entry-level roles like passport officers.
Shortlisted candidates should expect an e-mail invitation for an interview.
The MEA picks the best candidates based on their interview performance.
Depending on the role, insiders said that the MEA can take up to two months to complete the hiring process.
Interns at the MEA became familiar with how the government creates and implements foreign policies. The respective head of every division will designate the interns’ scope of work during the three-month internship, including research work and writing reports.
By the end of the internship, they may need to present a detailed report about their work. Freshers should submit a one-week notice to the MEA if they are unable to complete the internship program.
If freshers join the MEA as assistants, they might need to wait for at least five years and pass departmental exams before becoming a section officer.
Insiders said that assistants may even wait up to 14 years if the promotion is solely based on seniority.
Interns earn INR10,000 per month at the MEA. The government agency also provides a one-time stipend for air travel expenses to and from the MEA’s office.
Assistants typically earn INR40,000 per month. The salary bracket for passport officers ranges from INR79,000 to INR209,000 per year. Different types of allowances (eg housing/rent, transportation) may vary per role