An Indian diplomat is a member of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), which is the diplomatic service and a central civil service of the Government of India under the Ministry of External Affairs. The IFS is responsible for handling the foreign relations of India, providing consular services, and representing India in international organizations. The members of this service serve in more than 160 Indian diplomatic missions and international organizations around the world, as well as at the Presidents Secretariat, the Prime Ministers Office, and at the headquarters of MEA in New Delhi. Some of the offices held by the members of this service include Ambassador, High Commissioner, Consul General, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, and Foreign Secretary. As a career diplomat, the Foreign Service Officer is required to project Indias interests, both at home and abroad on a wide variety of issues.