Ministry
Ministry of External Affairs
The Ministry of External Affairs is the Government of India's department for the conduct of foreign relations — diplomacy, treaties, the diaspora, and representation abroad. It runs India's embassies and high commissions and is the lead agency for the country's borders diplomacy, multilateral engagement, and consular services.
Updated
- Formed
- 1948
- Headquarters
- South Block, New Delhi
- Diplomatic missions
- ~200 worldwide
- Cadre
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Role
The MEA formulates and executes India’s foreign policy. It is headed politically by the Minister of External Affairs and administratively by the Foreign Secretary, and staffed by the Indian Foreign Service. Its territorial and functional divisions mirror India’s diplomatic priorities — from neighbourhood relations to the multilateral and economic-diplomacy desks.
Desk maintained by IndiaStand editorial cycles.
Timeline since 1947
- reference
Indian Foreign Service established
The diplomatic cadre that staffs the ministry was created on 9 October 1946.
- reference
Ministry of External Affairs constituted
Formed shortly after independence, initially handling both external affairs and Commonwealth relations.
Frequently asked
- What is Ministry of External Affairs?
- The Ministry of External Affairs is the Government of India's department for the conduct of foreign relations — diplomacy, treaties, the diaspora, and representation abroad. It runs India's embassies and high commissions and is the lead agency for the country's borders diplomacy, multilateral engagement, and consular services.
- When was Ministry of External Affairs established?
- Ministry of External Affairs was established 1948.
- What does Ministry of External Affairs do?
- Its remit covers Bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, Treaties and international agreements, Passports, visas and consular services, Diaspora and overseas Indians, Development partnership and foreign aid.