Union Minister Jitendra Singh  wrote to the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), urging the cancellation of its latest advertisement for lateral entry into government positions. In his letter, Singh referred to directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing that the lateral entry process must adhere to the constitutional principles of equity and social justice, particularly concerning reservations.

UPSC’s Advertisement for Lateral Recruitment

The UPSC recently issued a notification seeking “talented and motivated Indian nationals” for lateral recruitment to senior government posts, including Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary positions across 24 ministries. A total of 45 posts were listed in the advertisement.

Political Debate on Lateral Entry

The issue of lateral entry has sparked political debate, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticizing the process, while the BJP defended it by highlighting that the concept was initially proposed under a Congress-led government. Singh’s letter noted that while pre-2014 lateral entries were often made in an ad-hoc manner, the current government’s efforts have aimed to make the process more institutional, transparent, and open.

Background on Lateral Entry

Lateral entry into bureaucracy allows individuals from outside the traditional government service cadres, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), to be recruited for mid and senior-level roles. This system was formally introduced under Prime Minister Modi’s administration, with the first vacancies announced in 2018, breaking from the long-standing practice of filling senior positions exclusively with career civil servants.