New Delhi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday has called for the cancellation of the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) latest advertisement for lateral entry positions, following growing political controversy. This action, reportedly directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comes amid criticism over these appointments.
The UPSC had recently announced 45 openings for lateral entry, including 10 joint secretaries and 35 directors or deputy secretaries. This initiative aimed to bring in specialized talent from various sectors, including the private sector, for government roles on a contractual basis.
In his letter to the UPSC chairperson, Singh highlighted the government’s commitment to transparency and institutional integrity. He pointed out that earlier lateral entries, particularly before 2014, faced criticism for being ad-hoc and biased. Singh emphasized that the current administration seeks to make the process more transparent and equitable, in line with constitutional principles and reservation provisions.
The controversy has escalated with BJP ally and Union Minister Chirag Paswan expressing concerns about the lack of reservations in these appointments. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also criticized the government, accusing it of potentially infringing on the rights of Dalits, OBCs, and adivasis with its appointment strategy.
The government defended its position, rejecting Congress’s claims as misleading and asserting that the lateral entry initiative is the largest of its kind in the bureaucracy and will not negatively affect SC/ST recruitment in all-India services. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that lateral entry has been part of Indian bureaucracy since the 1970s, citing examples like former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal challenged Gandhi’s statements, referencing historical precedents for such appointments, including Singh’s appointment as finance secretary in 1976.
Lateral entry involves recruiting individuals from outside the traditional Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre to fill mid and senior-level government positions. This approach aims to infuse new perspectives into governance but has recently sparked debate over its impact on reservation norms and fairness in the appointment process.
The term lateral entry means the appointment of specialists and experts, mainly those from the private sector, in government organizations and ministries. The government aims to recruit outstanding individuals, with expertise in revenue, financial services, economic affairs, agriculture, cooperation and farmers’ welfare, road transport and highway, civil aviation, commerce among many other sectors to serve for the benefit of the country.
UPSC is not a ball to play, thousands appeared for just handful of vacancy .