Govt Halts Lateral Entry Recruitment, Citing Past Issues & Quota Concerns

In a decisive move, the Narendra Modi government has instructed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to retract its recent advertisement for recruiting 45 specialists through lateral entry into top bureaucratic positions.

This decision comes amidst mounting pressure from both the NDA coalition partners and the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc, who have raised concerns about the lack of reservation provisions in the recruitment process.

In a letter to UPSC Chairperson Preeti Sudan, Minister of State for Personnel Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the need for a thorough review of the recruitment process to ensure alignment with the government’s commitment to social justice.

Singh emphasized that the advertised positions, categorized as specialized and single-cadre roles, lacked reservation provisions, which he argued contradicts the Prime Minister’s focus on equitable representation.

Dr. Singh referred to the M Veerappa Moily-led Second Administrative Reforms Commission, established by the UPA government in 2005, and the Sixth Pay Commission report of 2013.

He alleged that lateral entry appointments filled high-profile positions, including Secretaries in various ministries and leadership roles in UIDAI, without following reservation processes.

Singh criticized this as an example of the ad-hoc and opaque handling of previous lateral entries, accusing the process of favoritism.

Additionally, Singh highlighted the role of the “infamous” National Advisory Council, led by Sonia Gandhi during the UPA era, suggesting that it wielded disproportionate influence over the Prime Minister’s Office and the bureaucratic structure.

He argued that this council contributed to a super bureaucracy that undermined institutional integrity.

The Minister asserted that prior to 2014, lateral entries into senior government positions often lacked transparency and were marred by favoritism.

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