MEA to recruit academicians, pvt sector people

A meeting of the Parliamentary panel on External Affairs held in the backdrop of 'Lalitgate' controversy on Thursday saw no reference of the issue with the ministry informing about its plan to recruit people from academic and private sector for the first time in its history.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs met in the national Capital to discuss recruitment structure and capacity building of IFS cadre.

Deposing before the committee, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and other top officials of the MEA informed that for the first time in its history, the Ministry will advertise for positions in its Public Policy Division aiming talent 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," said committee chairman Shashi Tharoor, after the meeting. "Good 2 let new thinking into MEA," he later tweeted.  

The standing committee is also discussing the need for a separate UPSC examination for cadre, mid-career entry and in-service training and orientation of MEA officials.