Established on 2 September 1946, the Ministry of External Affairs is the central government agency responsible for managing India's foreign relations, conducting diplomatic affairs, drafting and formulating foreign policy to improve India's presence globally.
The Ministry of External Affairs is a ministry of the Government of India that plays an important role in shaping the country’s relationship with the rest of the world. It is the sole government department responsible for managing foreign affairs and representing the nation on the global stage. It is headed by the External Affairs minister and works to handle visas, matters related to NRIs, drafting foreign policy, implementation of laws and extradition of Indians living abroad. It was established in September 1946 and, since then, has worked extensively to improve India's presence globally.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was established in September 1946 and, since then, has focused on promoting economic diplomacy at the international level. The operations of the Ministry of External Affairs are managed by ministers of the states, foreign secretary, special secretaries and financial advisors who work together with the Minister of External Affairs on regional and internal issues related to the foreign affairs of the country. Its organizational structure is designed to handle both territorial and functional responsibilities along with specialized units to address complex global issues.
What is the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)?
Established on 2 September 1946, the Ministry of External Affairs is the central government agency responsible for managing India's foreign relations, conducting diplomatic affairs, and drafting and formulating foreign policy. It is headed by the External Affairs Minister, and it represents India in the United Nations, handles passports, visas, issues of NRIs and promotes national interests globally. It also manages bilateral and multilateral relationships with other countries and international organisations. Dr S. Jaishankar is the current External Affairs Minister, who was appointed on 30 May 2019.
Key Functions and Responsibilities of the Ministry of External Affairs
The Ministry of External Affairs manages India's foreign relations, formulates and implements foreign policy, promotes bilateral & multilateral relations and protects national interests abroad. They also handle diplomatic relations, passports, visas, consular services, and promote cultural ties through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Let’s take a look at the key functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of External Affairs.
1. Foreign Policy Formulation & Implementation
The Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for formulating and implementing foreign policies and laws based on the inputs through security assessments, intelligence collected by RAW, and data received from the territorial and functional divisions.
2. Diplomatic Representation
The Ministry of External Affairs manages all aspects of India’s external relations with foreign states and international organisations such as the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, G20 summit and World Bank. It represents the country through embassies, high commissions, consulates and permanent missions to the United Nations and other international forums.
3. Consular Services & Passport Issuance
The Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for handling the issuance and verification of passports and visas, along with providing consular services to Indian citizens abroad. It oversees births, deaths and marriages of Indian citizens abroad.
4. Protection of National Interests
The Ministry of External Affairs safeguards India's interests in foreign countries and promotes friendly relations with foreign states and their people. It also manages all protocol and ceremonial arrangements for visiting foreign VVIPs and diplomatic representatives.
5. Repatriation & Extradition
The Ministry of External Affairs facilitates the repatriation of Indian nationals from abroad in case of national emergencies and political tensions abroad. It also handles the extradition of criminals or accused persons who have escaped abroad.
Ministry of External Affairs Fees for Apostille and Attestation
In the Ministry of External Affairs, a fee of Rs 50 is payable for the apostille of a document. (W.e.f 21 December 2016, payment by means of postal orders has been discontinued.) Normal Attestation is done free of cost. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is not accepting documents directly from the applicant/individual; all documents for the purpose of Attestation/Apostille by MEA are to be submitted and collected from the 4 designated outsourced agencies. The fee chargeable by the outsourced agencies per document for its collection and delivery for Apostille/normal attestation by the Ministry of External Affairs will be Rs. 84/- (Service Fee) and Rs 3 per page (Scanning Fee).
History of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
The Ministry of External Affairs was established in September 1946, just before independence. Since then, it has managed the country's foreign relations and diplomatic affairs. However, the first ministry for foreign affairs was created in 1783 by the East India Company, but was formally restructured in 1948. It has evolved from focusing on anti-colonialism to promoting economic diplomacy and strategic partnerships. Let’s take a look at the history of the Ministry of External Affairs.
1. Origin
The British East India Company established a Foreign Department in Calcutta on 13 September 1783 to manage relations with Indian princely states and European foreign powers. It was mainly established to manage diplomatic, consular and commercial representation to protect British interests.
2. Establishment (1946-1948)
On the eve of independence, the Indian Foreign Service was created in September 1946. Following independence in 1947, it became the Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations. However, it was renamed as the Ministry of External Affairs in 1948, and it has been functional since then.
3. Evolution
The Ministry of External Affairs was initially focused on decolonisation and non-alignment as it was formed right after independence. However, with time, the focus of the Ministry shifted toward economic and strategic partnerships, particularly after the 1991 economic reforms.
Structure of Ministry of External Affairs
The Ministry of External Affairs is headed by the Cabinet Minister of External Affairs and assisted by Ministers of State. The ministry also consists of the Foreign Secretary and a senior Indian Foreign Service officer who acts as the administrative head. Let’s take a look at the structure of the Ministry of External Affairs.
1. Territorial Divisions
The territorial division of the Ministry of External Affairs manages bilateral, political and economic relations with specific regions, such as East Asia, West Asia, North Africa, Central Europe and Latin America.
2. Functional Divisions
The functional divisions handle specific subjects such as protocols, consular services such as Passport and visa, counter terrorism activities and legal treaties. They ensure economic diplomacy with international units.
3. Specialised Wings
The Ministry of External Affairs also operates through several specialized functional wings that handle complex global issues beyond geographic relations. These divisions provide technical, legal and strategic expertise to India's foreign policy.
Recent Policies of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
The Ministry of External Affairs has focused on enhancing digital, secure and regulated overseas grievance management. It has also passed the Overseas Mobility Bill 2025, which replaces the 1983 Act to protect international workers. Let’s take a look at the recent policies of the Ministry of External Affairs.
1. Overseas Mobility Bill 2025
The External Affairs Ministry proposed establishing an Overseas Mobility and Welfare Council to improve policy management between ministries, balancing opportunities abroad and protecting vulnerable citizens.
2. Know India Programme
The Know India Programme is an initiative for the Indian youth living abroad, aged 18-30, to foster connections with the homeland. It includes historical site visits, interaction with leaders and exposure to India's culture, economy and progress, with 90% of airfare and local hospitality funded by the Indian government.
3. Digital Citizen Service
The Ministry of External Affairs has heavily updated digital platforms, including the e-Migrate portal. It has also increased OCI card issuance to improve digital services for the Indian citizens living abroad, with over 1.4 million passports issued through early 2026.
Conclusion
The Ministry of External Affairs is the central government agency responsible for overseeing India's foreign relations, drafting & formulating foreign policy, diplomatic representation and protection of national interest. It is the sole government department responsible for managing foreign affairs and representing the nation on the global stage. The Ministry operates through territorial & functional divisions, which manage the operations such as bilateral relations and issuance of passports and visas.