PM Modi greets officers on IFS Day, lauds their work towards nation, furthering national interests

Greeting Indian Foreign Service officers on IFS day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that their work towards serving the nation and furthering national interests globally are commendable.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (October 9) greeted Indian Foreign Service officers on IFS day and said that their work towards serving the nation and furthering national interests globally are commendable.

Their efforts during the Vande Bharat Mission, which was launched to bring Indians home from abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic as international travel came to a halt, and other related help to our citizens and other nations is noteworthy, Modi added.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "On IFS day, greetings to all #IndianForeignService officers. Their work towards #ServingTheNation, furthering national interests globally are commendable. Their efforts during Vande Bharat Mission and other COVID related help to our citizens and other nations is noteworthy."

The Centre started the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ on May 6 to help those stranded due to the novel coronavirus pandemic reach their destinations via international repatriation flights.

According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, 6,348 repatriation flights were operated by the Air India Group under the Vande Bharat Mission till October 6, carrying over 8.31 lakh passengers. Of these, 3,175 were inbound flights carrying 5,34,753 passengers and 3,173 were outbound flights with 2,96,545 fliers.

In the latest update, as many as 17.2 lakh Indians have been repatriated through different modes under the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM), said the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday (October 8).

The mission is currently in its Phase 6 which will continue until November 30.