Cabinet nod for MEA expansion

Pointing out that the country8217;s diplomatic establishment of little over 900 officers was 8220;smaller8221; than those of the countries like China with 4,200 diplomatic officers and Brazil with about 1,200 diplomatic officers, he said the expansion plans entailed creation of 139 new officer-grade posts and 110 staff-level posts at the ministry headquarters.

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 had also been created for India8217;s missions abroad, Dasmunsi said. 8220;This will strengthen India8217;s diplomatic representation in view of India8217;s increasing global engagement,8221; the minister said after the Cabinet meeting.

Justifying its demand, the MEA had pointed out the country8217;s heightened external engagement in the form of 165 increase in high-level visits and 166 increase in India8217;s trade in the past five years in addition to 300 jump in the FDI inflow and 76 jump in foreign tourists visiting the country in the last five years.

The MEA also referred to the country8217;s deepening linkages with its bilateral and multilateral partners and its claim for permanent membership of the UN Security Council along with the need to tackle 8220;new issues8221; like international terrorism, human rights, migration, environment and quest for sustainable energy source as other reasons making this expansion necessary.