The Indian Foreign Service is the premier diplomatic service of India established in 1946. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in subjects like animal husbandry, botany, chemistry, or agriculture. Probationers are first attached to a desk dealing with a particular country at the Ministry of External Affairs, then posted abroad as third secretaries to an Indian mission where they study the local language. After confirmation they are promoted to second secretary. Training institutes include the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and schools of foreign languages at various universities.