Centre withdraws lateral entry ad on PM Modi's directions, writes to UPSC chairman

PM Modi

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday wrote to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairman, cancelling the government's advertisement for lateral entry into civil services.

Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the DoPT to withdraw the advertisement inviting people to apply for 45 posts in the central government via the lateral entry route. The decision had come under criticism from both the opposition and NDA allies like JD(U) and LJP.

"PM Modi is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in the Constitution, particularly concerning the provisions of reservation," stated the Union Minister in his letter.

Singh said for the PM, reservation in public employment is a cornerstone of our social justice framework, aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity.

He said that it's important that the constitutional mandate towards social justice is upheld so that deserving candidates from marginalised communities get their rightful representation in government services.

"Since these positions have been treated as specialized and designated as single-cadre posts, there has been no provision for reservation in these appointments. This aspect needs to be reviewed and reformed in the context of the Hon'ble Prime Minister's focus on ensuring social justice. Hence, I urge the UPSC to cancel the advertisement for lateral entry recruitment issued on 17.08.2024," stated the letter.

What is lateral entry?

Lateral entry into bureaucracy involves recruiting individuals from outside the traditional government service cadre to fill mid and senior-level slots. In 2017, NITI Aayog and the Sectoral Group of Secretaries on Governance in their report recommended the induction of personnel at middle and senior management levels in the central government. These “lateral entrants” were supposed to be part of the central secretariat. The lateral entry process was formally introduced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure. The first set of vacancies was announced in 2018. Till then, the central secretariat had only career bureaucrats from the All India Services/ Central Civil Services. They would be given contracts of three years, extendable to a total term of five years.

What did the ally and opposition say?

BJP ally and union minister Chirag Paswan on Monday voiced concern over making any appointments in government posts without providing reservation.

Paswan, who is the president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), said he would raise the lateral entry issue with the Centre, and “there is no ifs and buts in this.”

Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had said that the order was a "serious concern" for the party.

"We are a party that has been asking governments to fill quotas since inception. We are followers of Ram Manohar Lohia. When people have been socially disadvantaged for centuries, why are you seeking merit? This order by the government is a matter of serious concern for us,” he said.

Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the decision was an "attack" on the Dalits, OBCs and adivasis and accused the BJP of seeking to snatch reservations from "bahujans".