Govt nod for expansion of Ministry of External Affairs

NEW DELHI: As India increases its global engagements, the government on Thursday took a step to expand its team of diplomats in a bid to ensure better representation of the country the world over.

The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved an expansion plan of the Ministry of External Affairs over a period of 10 years through creation of 514 new posts, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters here.

The expansion plans entail creation of 139 new officer-grade posts and 110 staff-level posts at the ministry headquarters, he said.

The country can look forward to better representation in the global fora with additional 175 officers at various missions across the globe.

Ninety staff-level posts have also been created for India's missions abroad, Dasmunsi said.

"This will strengthen India's diplomatic representation in view of India's increasing global engagement," the minister said after the Cabinet meeting.