I need to join the Indian Foreign Service

I appeared for SSC state board (Maharashtra, Mumbai) exam. I plan on working for the UN in the future and need to join IFS. I wanted to know what I should be studying further. I was planning to do HSC in Science (Maths) and then B.Sc. as I need a degree to appear for UPSC exam. Is this the right choice? How long will it take to be well settled (I mean work for the UN as a delegate of India). Will I have lucrative job options if I’m not selected in the UPSC.
Vaibhavi Matale

The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is a central service and the premier diplomatic service of our country. It is responsible for the administration and activities of Indian missions abroad, and for the framing and implementation of the Government’s foreign policy.

The service offers immense exposure to different political, social, ethnic and cultural milieu. An IFS officer can be posted in 160 odd Indian embassies and missions abroad. They can also be deputed to institutions like the United Nations, UNESCO, World Bank, SAARC, etc. Back home, they can be posted in various parts of the country as Passport Officers.

IFS officers are recruited under the combined Civil Services Examination administered by the Union Public Service Commission (upsc.gov.in). It has three stages — a preliminary exam, a main exam, and an interview — and is known for being extremely challenging. The main exam requires you to be thorough in two subjects of your choice. Focus on subjects you like — English and Current affairs. Make it a habit to read the newspapers every day.
The service offers vast exposure to entrants as well a prime status as representatives of the country. It is a high-flying job, but entry to the Foreign Service is tough and average intake is only 10-15 persons annually.