Lateral entry into bureaucracy: 5 things to know about govt's new hiring policy

India’s Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recently announced a new recruitment initiative for Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries through a lateral entry approach.

This decision has sparked criticism from opposition parties, who argue that it undermines reservation rights for OBCs, SCs, and STs. However, the concept of lateral entry was first introduced by the Congress-led UPA government and received strong support from the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), established in 2005 under the chairmanship of Veerappa Moily.

5 things to know about Lateral Entry?

1. The Second ARC, led by Veerappa Moily, stated the need for specialized knowledge in certain government roles that was not always available within the traditional civil services. The ARC recommended recruiting professionals from sectors such as the private industry, academia, and public enterprises to address these gaps.

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2. To enhance government capabilities, the ARC proposed establishing a talent pool of experts who could be brought into government roles on a short-term or contractual basis. This would infuse new perspectives and expertise in fields like economics, finance, technology, and public policy.

3. The Commission stressed the need for a transparent and merit-based selection process for lateral entrants. It suggested creating a dedicated agency to manage the recruitment and oversight of these professionals.

4. The ARC recommended implementing a robust performance management system to ensure that lateral entrants are held accountable for their contributions and to regularly assess their performance.

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5. The ARC also stated the importance of integrating lateral entrants into the existing civil service framework in a way that maintains the integrity and values of the civil service while utilizing their specialized skills.

History of Lateral entry

The First Administrative Reforms Commission, established in 1966 and chaired initially by Morarji Desai and later by K. Hanumanthaiah, laid the foundation for discussions on the need for specialised skills in civil services. Although it did not specifically advocate for lateral entry, it stressed the importance of professionalisation, training, and reforms to meet the demands of a changing nation.

Historically, the Government of India has included external talent in senior advisory roles and, occasionally, in key administrative positions. For example, the Chief Economic Advisor, typically a lateral entrant, is always an eminent economist under the age of 45. Other distinguished individuals have also been appointed to high-level positions as Secretaries to the Government.

Lateral Entry During the Modi Government:

The formal introduction of the lateral entry scheme occurred during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure. Recognising the need for domain experts to enhance administrative efficiency, the government announced vacancies for senior positions like Joint Secretaries and Directors in 2018.

This initiative marked the first time that professionals from outside the traditional civil service were invited to apply for these roles. The rigorous selection process emphasised candidates’ qualifications, experience, and suitability for these strategic positions.

This move was influenced by the ARC’s earlier recommendations and aimed to make the administration more dynamic and responsive to modern governance challenges. The recruitment of Joint Secretaries in 2018 put into practice the ARC’s vision, demonstrating a commitment to integrating specialised external expertise into the civil service.