Indian Trade Service

Indian Trade Service
Service overview
Abbreviation I.T.S.
Formed 1965
Country  India
Training ground Foundation-course at various designated academies allocated by LBSNAA-Mussourie, MCR HRD Hyderabad, professional training at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade( IIFT), New Delhi, plus attachments at institutes of national importance / PSU's /autonomous establishments and at international institutes / organisations/ Ports including attachment with NACEN, Customs academy, Mumbai and Foreign Service Institute( FSI, New Delhi).
Controlling authority Ministry of Commerce, Office of the Director General of Foreign Trade
Legal personality Governmental:Central Group 'A' Civil-service,officers recruited on basis of yearly competitive Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC, former connotations : IAS- ALLIED
General nature Foreign Trade Policy Formulation
Foreign Trade Policy Implementation

International Trade negotiations Trade disputes settlement Trade diplomacy Niryat Bandhu ( sector specific trade hand holding of new entrepreneurs )

Preceding service Central Trade Service
Cadre size 180 (sanctioned), 130 currently employed'
Head/Chief

The Indian Trade Service (ITS), Group ‘A’ Civil Service, was created as a specialized cadre to handle India's international trade & commerce on the basis of the recommendations of the Mathur Committee (Study Team on the Import and Export Trade Control Organization headed by Sri H.C. Mathur, Member of Parliament) in 1965. At present Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce is the cadre controlling authority of the ITS, has many regional offices across India, and plays a significant role in India's foreign trade with its policy formulation and implementation.

The Department is headed by a Secretary who is assisted by a Special Secretary & Financial Adviser, three Additional Secretaries, thirteen Joint Secretaries and Joint Secretary level officers and a number of other senior officers. Keeping in view the large increase in workload in matters related to World Trade Organization (WTO), Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), free trade agreements (FTAs), Special Economic Zones (SEZs), joint study groups (JSGs) etc., two posts each of Joint Secretaries and Directors were created in the Department during 2008-09.

The Department is functionally organized into the following eight Divisions:

Work profile

The Service has been utilized in the following areas also:

Recently, the ITS officers are spearheading the trade activities as Development Commissioners in various SEZs. ( SEZ policy was formulated by a team of senior ITS officers on behalf of the government of India)

In fact, serving in the various Indian Commercial Consulates by the ITS officers is the future as trade gains further momentum.

Career progression

ITS officers start their careers as Assistant DGFTs Dynamism on the trade front is reflected in a large way through the positions occupied by ITS officials in Ministry of Commerce and other International Trade agencies ( WTO, UN ESCAP, Trade Boards etc. ) Individual officers are posted in the DGFT, DGAD, Trade policy division, Trade dispute settlement, other wings of Department of Commerce and various Ministries and in Export Promotion Councils and Trade bodies, Major Trade consulates, Indian Mission at Geneva, UN Economic agencies etc. )

External links

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