Ministry of External Affairs

About Ministry

• The Ministry of External Affairs of India (abbreviated as MEA), also known as the Foreign Ministry, is the government agency responsible for the conduct of foreign relations of India. The Ministry comes under the Government of India and is responsible for India’s representation in the United Nations. It also advises other Ministries and State Governments when the latter have dealings with foreign governments or institutions.
• The Ministry is the cadre controlling authority of the Indian Foreign Service, the service is wholly under the administration and supervision of the External Affairs Ministry.

PRAVASI KAUSHAL VIKAS YOJANA (PKVY)

Objectives

• • Training and certification of Indian workforce keen on overseas employment in select sectors and job roles, in line with international standards, to facilitate overseas employment opportunities.

Implementation

• • By National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), through its Training Partners, in consultation with MEA and MSDE.
    • 1. Role of MSDE (through NSDC) – establishment of customised International Skill Centres to operationalise the initiative.
      2. Role of MEA – To support Pre-Departure Orientation Training (POOT), including language and soft skills training. Training offered will be backed by internationally recognised assessment and certification system.

Salient Features

• • It is a skill development initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship which will be implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
  • The short-term program (of 2 weeks to one month) will prepare the candidates holistically in taking up challenging assignments in different countries with confidence and meet transnational skill requirements.
  • It involves training them in suitable skill sets which address the requirements in communication, trade specific knowledge and skills along with cultural orientation. These will be in line with international standards.

SAMEEP – STUDENTS AND MEA ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME

Objectives

• • To take Indian foreign policy and its global engagements to students across the country.
  • To drive interest in diplomacy as a career option.

Salient Features

• • It is an outreach programme aimed at taking Indian foreign policy and its global engagements to students across the country.
  • It is voluntary programme in which all the ministry officers – under-secretary and above – will be asked to go to their hometowns, particularly their alma maters.
  • They will be expected to interact with the students about the way the Ministry of External Affairs works, basic elements of its policies, how diplomacy is conducted, and generally give students an idea of what a career in the MEA would look like.
  • The officials will be provided a basic standardised presentation by the ministry, but will be free to add their own improvisations and experiences.
  • The agenda of the programme is not only to make students interested and aware of India’s place in the world and its global ambitions, but also to drive interest in diplomacy as a career option.

KNOW INDIA PROGRAMME

• • It was launched in 2004.

Objectives

• • To familiarize Indian origin youth (18-30 years) with their Indian roots and contemporary India.

Salient Features

• • For NRI and PIO youth of age group of 18 to 30 years.
  • It is a three-week orientation programme for diaspora youth conducted with a view to promote awareness on different facets of life in India and the progress made by the country in various fields e.g. economic, industrial, education, science & technology, communication & information Technology, culture.
  • It provides a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views, expectations and experiences and to bond closely with contemporary India.

To read and learn about Government Schemes and Programs related to other Ministries,  Click Here. (Notes on all Government Ministries Schemes and Programs)