The Minister of External Affairs (or simply, the Foreign Minister, in Hindi Videsh Mantri Hindi pronunciation: [ ʋɪdeːʃə məntriː ]) is the head of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India. One of the senior-most offices in the Union Cabinet, the chief responsibility of the Foreign Minister is to represent India and its government in the international community. The Foreign Minister also plays an important role in determining Indian foreign policy. Occasionally, the Foreign Minister is assisted by a Minister of State for External Affairs or the lower-ranked Deputy Minister of External Affairs.