During high-profile global gatherings such as the BRICS Summit, news cameras naturally focus heavily on world leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, recent images from top-level diplomatic meetings highlighted a key official standing directly beside the Indian Prime Minister. That officer is Siddharth Babu, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer serving as Prime Minister Modi's official diplomatic interpreter. His vital role during closed-door conversations between global heads of state sparked widespread public interest regarding his background, career path, and professional duties.
Transition From Corporate Engineering To Foreign Diplomacy
Hailing from Kochi, Kerala, Siddharth Babu originally pursued an entirely different academic and professional trajectory. He earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and initially worked in the private corporate sector with e-commerce firms. Driven by a deep interest in international relations and public service, he decided to shift towards competitive exams and prepared for the Civil Services Examination. In the 2016 UPSC exam, he achieved an extraordinary All India Rank (AIR) 15.
Choosing the IFS Over the IAS
Securing a top 15 rank gave Siddharth Babu the opportunity to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), which remains the most sought-after branch for many civil service aspirants. However, guided by his personal passion for global affairs and foreign policy, he consciously selected the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Joining the 2017 batch, he steadily advanced through diplomatic roles and currently serves as Deputy Secretary handling Europe and Eurasia divisions at the Ministry of External Affairs. His role as the official diplomatic interpreter at the BRICS Summit, facilitating fluid communication between President Putin and PM Modi, brought his inspiring career into the national spotlight.
Key Functional and Financial Differences: IAS vs IFS
Public interest often surrounds the distinct responsibilities and compensation structures of the IAS and IFS. An IAS officer operates domestically, managing law and order, public policy implementation, district administration, and state or central government departments. Their primary domain centers around direct public interaction and domestic governance.
Conversely, an IFS officer represents India abroad in foreign embassies and international forums as a diplomat or ambassador. Their core duties involve safeguarding national interests, negotiating international treaties, managing bilateral trade agreements, and maintaining strategic foreign alliances. In terms of compensation, both IAS and IFS officers start at Level 10 of the 7th Pay Commission scale and can progress to Level 18 positions, such as Cabinet Secretary or Foreign Secretary. While their basic pay structures align, IFS officers deployed on overseas postings receive a specialized Foreign Allowance. Designed to accommodate international living costs, currency fluctuations, and diplomatic representation requirements, this allowance elevates the overall compensation package for overseas-posted diplomats.
