As part of a proposed cadre restructuring of the IIS, which is the central service responsible for government communications under the I&B Ministry, a proposal has been sent to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to create 40 IIS posts in Indian missions abroad aiming to directly engage with media across the world, project India’s growth story and counter adverse narratives. The initiative aims to highlight India’s economy, trade potential, culture and heritage, tourism and infrastructure development as the country’s global stature rises.

The sources said, “In this age of fake narratives and misinformation, there is a need to present an Indian perspective directly to the world.” The need to expand New Delhi’s global outreach has been felt for several years, they said. “In the wake of Operation Sindoor, it was felt that handling misinformation and countering fake narratives would be a key concern in the times to come. There has also been considerable interest in commerce and economic developments as New Delhi signed a slew of trade agreements. It was therefore felt that a coordinated inter-ministerial approach could be more impactful,” sources said.

This in no way include the matters of foreign policy. “The proposal is currently under review. Discussions at the level of senior officials or ministers may follow once the MEA responds,” sources said.