Lateral entry in government is essential for highly specialised functions, not everywhere

Due to mounting criticism, mainly on account of not following reservation policy, the government decided to take a step back on lateral entry.

Union Public Service Commission issued a detailed advertisement for filling up certain posts in Central Ministries. The advertisement provided qualifications, job description and required experience for these positions at the level of Joint Secretary, Director and even Deputy Secretary.

Many of the advertised posts could have been filled up by deputation and there was no need for an open advertisement. However, one good development is that the posts were advertised. In the last decade, some positions were filled up through lateral entry without any public notice.

Due to mounting criticism from opposition and its own allies, mainly on account of not following reservation policy, the union government decided to take a step back and the Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions wrote Chairperson UPSC urging her to cancel the advertisement. Normally communications from the government are issued under the signatures of officers. The letter also mentions that the aspects of reservation need to be reviewed in accordance with the Prime Minister’s focus on ensuring social justice.

Lateral entry of experts has served India well

Lateral entry into the ministries of the union government is not new, especially in economic ministries. Many of the important voices of economic reforms over the years were lateral entrants into the government. Several architects of India’s economic reforms were lateral entrants. For example, Manmohan Singh, Lovraj Kumar, Vijay Kelkar and Montek Singh Ahluwalia were appointed based on their experience and contribution in respective fields.

The difference in policy of lateral entry in the Modi Government is that such lateral appointments have been made even at a relatively junior designation of Director and Deputy Secretary.

Deputation sans reservation

Previous union governments have taken officers from other ministries, public sector undertakings, government organisations, universities and state governments and their PSUs, educational institutions and statutory organisations. The vacancies are circulated and applications are invited from eligible candidates. Reservation policy is not followed in taking officers on deputation.

Lateral entry’s needed for specific functions

We need experts from academia and legal fraternity who have experience of dealing with trade negotiations. They can contribute not only with their knowledge of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules but also issues related to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Keeping this mind, the Government should ideally identify such positions in important ministries and select suitable experts for not only in the commerce ministry in India but also in the Indian mission to the WTO in Geneva.

Most of the time this has not been done. A lateral appointment to Indian mission at WTO in Geneva was given to someone who had no proven expertise in the area. Certain positions advertised by the UPSC could be easily filled by taking officers on deputation.

I explain this by taking example of positions advertised recently for the ministry of agriculture.

In-house expertise for agriculture available in government ecosystem

For the post of Director/Deputy Secretary (Credit) in the ministry of agriculture an officer from any public sector bank will easily meet the qualifications and experience requirement. India has 12 public sector banks and 56 regional rural banks (also promoted by PSBs). Their officers have a lot more experience of rural credit than someone who has worked in a private bank.

Similarly, for the post of Director/Deputy Secretary (Forestry) in the ministry of agriculture, Indian Forest Service officers would be most suitable for the job description mentioned in the advertisement. It is unlikely that such an experienced professional will be available outside the Government.

Another post advertised for the ministry of agriculture is that of Director/Deputy Secretary (Integrated Nutrients Management). Indian Council of Agriculture Research has Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, which would have several scientists who would be well aware of Soil Health Card Scheme and Parampargat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY) for promotion of organic farming. Several other institutes of ICAR, State Agriculture Universities and IFFCO and KRIBHCO etc. would also have persons having required professional qualification and experience in these areas.

Similarly, the post of Director/Deputy Secretary, Natural Farming, Organic Farming, Rainfed Farming System and Water Management, can easily find the most suitable persons within the ICAR/State Agriculture University system or the agriculture and allied departments of the State Governments.

Stability of tenure will help leverage full potential of lateral entrants

One of the critical issues in the ministries is frequent transfers. Lately, even IAS officers at the level of Joint/Additional Secretary have had short tenures. Lateral entry will be meaningful if expertise in an area is given importance and transfers are minimised. This is especially true in the areas dealing with international negotiations where the developed nations come with experts who have been involved for decades and know the background of previous commitments and their implications.

It is useful to note that the government, looking for outside expertise at the level of JS/Director/DS, has appointed IAS officers as chairmen of several Public Sector Banks. Even large private banks like ICICI and HDFC have taken IAS officers as their chairmen. Similarly, several highly specialised regulatory authorities are manned by IAS officers who may not have had much experience in these highly specialised areas.

In view of this, lateral entry from private sector in central ministries, even at junior level of Director/DS, does not inspire much confidence.

Governments should build expertise

The bottom line is that expertise from outside the government should be highly selective and only persons with proven experience and competence should be taken through lateral entry. Within the IAS and other central services, expertise can be built by posting officers with high degrees in relevant ministries. This is often not done; ministry of finance is itself an example.

It is not possible to follow reservation policy for such positions and if their number is small, there may not be any political opposition to such appointments. In a coalition government, consultation within the cabinet would also be useful in reaching a consensus.

Lastly, those occupying such positions through lateral entry must avoid speaking on politically sensitive issues and should offer their expert advice to the government through official channels.