ITS was formed in 1991. After recruitment, the candidates undergo training at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade ,New Delhi.

Cadre Controlling authority of ITS is the Ministry of Commerce, Office of the Director General of Foreign Trade.

Cadre size: 180

The Indian Trade Service (ITS) is a Group ‘A’ Civil Service and was created as a specialized cadre to handle India's international trade & commerce on the basis of the recommendations of the Mathur Committee.

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:

*. Administration and General Division

*. Finance Division

*. Economic Division

*. Trade Policy Division

*. Foreign Trade Territorial Division

*. State Trading & Infrastructure Division

*. Supply Division

*. Plantation Division.