<p>Citing that India is in need of a robust foreign policy with a focus on the world of the 21st century, former diplomat-turned politician Shashi Tharoor has said the country requires more foreign services officials to play the role of a global leader.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tharoor, 56, who launched his new book 'Pax Indica: India and the world of the 21st century' here last night, said India was now being changed to a rulemaker from ruletaker and could play a global role promoting an overall set of rules of the road.<br /><br />He said that while India has come a long way after opening up its economy since 1991, but it still needs to work on several aspects including on its severely understaffed and underfunded Ministry of External Affairs.<br /><br />He said India needed a robust foreign policy with a focus on the world of the 21st century.<br />"Given the state of aspirations of Indian foreign policy in the globalised world, there are ministries grossly understaffed and under resourced," Tharoor said.<br /><br />"There is a need to expand that dramatically, hire more experts like climate experts," he said.<br /><br />He said for India with population of over 1.2 billion it had over 900 foerign services officials across the world which was even less than a smaller country like Brazil which has over 1200 and China which has around 4200 foreign service officials.<br /><br />Launching and signing away the book for his readers at a packed event, Tharoor said that the 440-page book was dedicated to his wife Sunanda Pushkar.</p>
<p>Citing that India is in need of a robust foreign policy with a focus on the world of the 21st century, former diplomat-turned politician Shashi Tharoor has said the country requires more foreign services officials to play the role of a global leader.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tharoor, 56, who launched his new book 'Pax Indica: India and the world of the 21st century' here last night, said India was now being changed to a rulemaker from ruletaker and could play a global role promoting an overall set of rules of the road.<br /><br />He said that while India has come a long way after opening up its economy since 1991, but it still needs to work on several aspects including on its severely understaffed and underfunded Ministry of External Affairs.<br /><br />He said India needed a robust foreign policy with a focus on the world of the 21st century.<br />"Given the state of aspirations of Indian foreign policy in the globalised world, there are ministries grossly understaffed and under resourced," Tharoor said.<br /><br />"There is a need to expand that dramatically, hire more experts like climate experts," he said.<br /><br />He said for India with population of over 1.2 billion it had over 900 foerign services officials across the world which was even less than a smaller country like Brazil which has over 1200 and China which has around 4200 foreign service officials.<br /><br />Launching and signing away the book for his readers at a packed event, Tharoor said that the 440-page book was dedicated to his wife Sunanda Pushkar.</p>