The School of Foreign Languages (SFL) was set up by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in 1948 to give preparing in various unknown dialects to the staff of Armed Forces and Government offices, for example, the MEA, the Cabinet Secretariat, Central Police Organizations viz. BSF, CRPF, ITBP, and so forth. The Government of India allowed perpetual status to the SFL in 1954. The practical and managerial control of SFL was moved from JS (Est/Trg) and CAO/MoD to HQ IDS on 04 May 17. The job of SFL is to meet the developing necessities of the Government when all is said in done and Armed Forces specifically for qualified unknown dialect specialists. For IFS (Probationers), it is required to qualify the Advanced Diploma (IFS) assessment directed by the Institute. Non military personnel understudies are additionally conceded for Certificate of Proficiency and Advanced Diploma subject to accessibility of seats. 

The SFL is commanded to lead Interpretership and different courses in Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Tibetan, Persian, Sinhala, German, French, Spanish, Bahasha Indonesia, Japanese and Burmese. Be that as it may, due to non-accessibility of certain perpetual staff, Interpretership courses are by and by being directed distinctly in Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Persian, Tibetan and Sinhala. The Spanish course would start sooner rather than later as the enrollment procedure of the Spanish language speaker is in the last stages. Short courses are led to be determined dialects through visitor workforce, in light of necessities anticipated by the Services.