NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs( MEA) has put out advertisements for recruiting academics as consultants for conducting research and writing papers for its newly-resurgent Policy Planning and Research(PPR) Division.
And the ministry has advertised for the posts of three researchers, who will be attached to the PPR Division while working as consultants. The qualification would be at least an M.Phil in the relevant area of international relations, with the final selection to be made on the basis of on an interview. Even though the period of consultancy is for three years, it could be extended.
As per the job description, the international relations experts will entail regular monitoring of “specific geographical or thematic areas relevant to foreign policy formulation, and providing knowledge-based inputs for the same”. “From time to time, they may also be asked to undertake historical research on specific foreign policy-related issues,” said the notice issued by the MEA. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had on Thursday told a meeting of the Standing Committee of External Affairs that they will be recruiting individuals from outside the MEA’s PPR Division. Interestingly, the Parliamentary Standing Committee report for MEA had earlier recommended open lateral entry into the ministry from “academia, think tanks, NGOs and the private sector”.
The MEA, though, maintains that it already has lateral entry, which it asserts includes increase in deputation of personnel from the other ministries, especially economic ones to boost the development aid and trade aspect of Indian diplomacy. Besides the officials on deputation, MEA already has several consultants on contract, but they are usually retired MEA officials taken in to keep the wheels rolling in the manpower-deficient ministry.