In a move that has stirred significant debate, the central government has announced a ban on the advertisement of lateral entry positions in the civil services, effective immediately.
The government has requested that the UPSC cancel its advertisements for lateral entry positions, aiming to ensure a more transparent and fair recruitment process. This decision, communicated through a letter from Union Personnel Minister Jitendra Singh to the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), reflects the government’s ongoing re-evaluation of lateral entry practices.
The directive, issued on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mandates the cancellation of an advertisement released by the UPSC on August 17, 2024, which sought to fill 45 high-ranking posts, including Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Director-level positions through lateral entry. Lateral entry allows for recruitment without the traditional UPSC examination, bypassing the established reservation rules.
“While most of the major lateral entries before 2014 were made in an ad-hoc manner, including cases of alleged favoritism, efforts of our government have been to make the process institutionally driven, transparent and open,” Union minister Jitendra Singh said in his letter to UPSC chairperson Preeti Sudan.
In his letter, Minister Singh emphasized that the government’s decision aligns with the principles of equality and social justice enshrined in the Indian Constitution. He noted that previous lateral entries, which predominantly occurred before 2014, were executed on an ad hoc basis and lacked a commitment to these principles. Prime Minister Modi has underscored the importance of ensuring that such recruitment practices adhere to constitutional provisions, particularly regarding reservation for SC, ST, and OBC categories.
