UPSC Cancels Advertisement For Lateral Entry Vacancies Following PM Modi’s Orders
Reported by Tikam Shekhawat
New Delhi, 20th August 2024: On August 17, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced vacancies for 45 lateral entry positions. However, the notification has since been cancelled. Union Minister Jitendra Singh requested the UPSC chairman to withdraw the announcement, following directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also criticized this recruitment process, alleging that it was an attempt to bypass the rights of SC, ST, and OBC communities. He claimed that the Modi government was filling public service positions with individuals affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) through lateral entry.
In response, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal countered Rahul Gandhi’s criticism by pointing out that lateral entry was not a new concept. He noted that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was appointed as Finance Secretary in 1976, Montek Singh Ahluwalia became Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and Sonia Gandhi was made Chief of the National Advisory Council (NAC) through lateral entry. Meghwal added that the Congress party initiated lateral entry, but it was the Modi government that formalized the process by empowering the UPSC to regulate it.
Meghwal further accused Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi of opposing OBC reservations during their respective tenures as Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. He argued that lateral entry is open to all, allowing people from all backgrounds to apply. Meghwal criticized Rahul Gandhi for what he described as a sudden and insincere concern for OBCs, accusing him of misleading SC, ST, and OBC communities and tarnishing the reputation of institutions like the UPSC.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan also voiced concerns over lateral entry recruitment, emphasizing that reservations should be upheld in government appointments without exceptions. He pointed out that there is no reservation in the private sector and that failing to implement it in government positions is worrisome. Paswan stated that while the government and the Prime Minister support reservations, direct recruitment through lateral entry has not always considered this principle. He expressed his party’s disagreement with this approach and pledged to continue raising the issue.
Following the UPSC recruitment notification, Rahul Gandhi took to X (formerly Twitter) on August 18, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of undermining the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the RSS instead of the UPSC. He claimed that lateral entry was openly infringing on the rights of SC, ST, and OBC communities.
What is Lateral Entry?
Lateral entry refers to direct recruitment without the usual examination process. Through this method, the central government recruits experts from the private sector for senior positions. It typically involves professionals with extensive experience in fields such as revenue, finance, economics, agriculture, and education.
Recruitment for positions like Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary in government ministries is conducted through lateral entry. The process was formally introduced in 2018, with 6,077 applications received for the post of Joint Secretary. Following the UPSC selection process, nine appointments were made in various ministries and departments in 2019.
