Centre reverses decision on lateral entry, asks UPSC to cancel ad.
On Saturday, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released an advertisement for 45 positions, which included 10 posts for joint secretaries and 35 posts for directors or deputy secretaries. These positions were intended for lateral entry, a process that allows individuals from outside the traditional civil services to join the government in key roles. However, the Centre has now reversed its decision, directing the UPSC to cancel the advertisement. The move represents a significant shift in the government’s approach to filling these high-level administrative positions, highlighting ongoing debates about the efficacy and necessity of lateral entry into the civil services.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh has requested the cancellation of the recent advertisement for lateral entry positions in a letter sent to the chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Tuesday. The letter, which cites the Prime Minister’s directions, emphasized the need for the process of lateral recruitment to adhere to the principles of equity and social justice as outlined in the Constitution, particularly concerning the provision for reservations.
The UPSC Advertisement
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had advertised 45 positions on Saturday, consisting of 10 posts for joint secretaries and 35 for directors or deputy secretaries, to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis. This was considered the largest tranche of lateral recruitment undertaken by the Centre, according to an official. The advertisement stated that the government was inviting online applications from talented and motivated Indian nationals who were eager to contribute to nation-building by joining the government at the level of joint secretary or director/deputy secretary.
The vacancies were in various ministries and departments headquartered in New Delhi, and the positions were expected to be filled on a contract basis. The contract was to be for three years, extendable to five years depending on performance. The advertisement directed interested candidates to apply via the website https://www.upsconline.nic.in by September 17. This marked a significant move in the government’s effort to bring in domain experts into the bureaucracy, filling gaps in ministries and departments that require specialized skills and expertise.
Opposition Criticism and Government Response
However, the lateral entry scheme quickly became a flashpoint in Indian politics, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition. Gandhi’s critique was centered on the belief that the scheme was a move to sideline the reservation system and thereby disadvantage Dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Adivasis.
“Lateral entry is an attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis,” Congress MP Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, ramping up the opposition to the ‘biggest’ lateral entry scheme under the Modi government. He further accused the BJP of distorting the principles of ‘Ram Rajya’ to destroy the Constitution and strip away reservations from the Bahujan community. According to Gandhi, the lateral entry scheme was tantamount to the ‘privatization of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS),’ a move that he claimed was Modi’s way of ensuring the end of reservations in the country.
Gandhi and the Congress party have been particularly vocal in their opposition to the UPSC advertisement, claiming that it was part of a BJP conspiracy to deprive marginalized communities of opportunities to reach top positions in the government. The Congress party argued that the lateral entry scheme was designed to bring in individuals from privileged backgrounds, thereby denying SC, ST, and OBC categories their rightful share in government positions.
BJP’s Counterattack
In response to the Congress and the INDIA bloc’s criticism, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has mounted a robust defense of the lateral entry scheme. The BJP has accused the Congress of hypocrisy, pointing out that the idea of lateral entry was not new and had been recommended during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Specifically, the BJP highlighted the 2005 recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), which was chaired by Congress leader Veerappa Moily.
According to the BJP, the ARC had recommended the hiring of domain experts in the bureaucracy to fill gaps in specialized areas, much like what is being attempted under the current scheme. The BJP has accused the Congress of politicizing the issue purely for electoral gain, arguing that the Opposition is attempting to mislead the public by suggesting that the scheme is an attack on reservations.
The BJP has also argued that the lateral entry scheme is a necessary and well-thought-out move to bring in expertise and fill in gaps in ministries and departments that require specific skill sets. The party insists that the scheme is not intended to undermine the reservation system but rather to supplement the existing administrative framework by bringing in talent from outside the traditional civil services.
The Broader Debate
The controversy over lateral entry touches on broader issues concerning the Indian administrative system, including the effectiveness of the reservation system and the need for expertise in government. Proponents of lateral entry argue that the government needs to bring in fresh talent and specialized knowledge from outside the traditional civil services to meet the complex challenges of governance in the 21st century. They argue that the traditional civil service, while effective in many areas, may not always have the specialized knowledge required in certain technical or policy domains.
Critics, however, see the lateral entry scheme as a backdoor method of privatizing the civil services and undermining the reservation system, which is intended to provide opportunities for historically marginalized communities. They argue that the scheme could lead to a concentration of power in the hands of a few, with those from privileged backgrounds being given an unfair advantage over those from reserved categories.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the UPSC advertisement and the controversy surrounding the lateral entry scheme highlights the ongoing tension between the need for expertise in government and the imperative of ensuring social justice and equity. As the debate continues, it is clear that the issue of lateral entry will remain a contentious one in Indian politics, reflecting broader concerns about the direction of the country’s administrative and political systems. The government’s reversal on the advertisement is a significant development, but the underlying issues are likely to persist, shaping the discourse around governance and equity in India for some time to come.