By NewsGram Staff Writer

The Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is planning to recruit people from the academic and private sectors for the first time in its history. The recruited consultants would assist Indian diplomats in taking appropriate foreign policies. This is being done to introduce new thinking in the system.

As reported by media outlets, the Parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs met to discuss recruitment structure and capacity building of IFS cadre.

The Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and other top officials of the MEA reportedly informed that for the first time ever, the ministry will advertise for positions in its public policy division aiming at hiring talented people from the academic world and private sector.

"Though there are lateral recruitments from army and other such organisations into the MEA, it is for the first time it plans to advertise seeking talent from outside government," committee chairman Shashi Tharoor was reported as saying.

The MEA hopes to bring in four researchers on a consultant basis for works attached to the PPR (Policy Planning and Research) Division, as per media reports. The minimum qualification would be an M. Phil degree in the relevant area of international relations. The final selection would be based on an interview.