The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has been directed by the Modi government to cancel its recent advertisements for lateral entry positions in central ministries. This directive comes after the UPSC announced 45 vacancies for roles typically reserved for senior bureaucrats, including 10 positions for joint secretaries and 35 for directors and deputy secretaries, which were to be filled on a contractual basis.
The decision to halt the lateral entry recruitment marks a significant shift in the government’s approach. The initiative, introduced by the Modi administration, was intended to infuse fresh talent from outside the traditional civil services, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS). The goal was to enhance governance and bring in specialised professionals to key positions within the central ministries.
Notable figures who have previously entered the government through a similar lateral entry approach include Sam Pitroda, a technocrat and entrepreneur known for his role in India’s telecom revolution; Manmohan Singh, who joined as an economic advisor in 1971 and later became Prime Minister; V. Krishnamurthy, who played a critical role in India’s industrial policy; Bimal Jalan, an economist who served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India; Kaushik Basu, a prominent academic economist who later served as Chief Economist at the World Bank; N.K. Singh, who transitioned from IAS to advisory roles in finance; Arvind Virmani, former Chief Economic Advisor; Raghuram Rajan, who served as Chief Economic Advisor and later as RBI Governor; Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission; and Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys and former head of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Union Minister Jitendra Singh communicated the decision to the UPSC Chairman, following directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The exact reasons for the cancellation of these job advertisements have not been disclosed, raising questions about the future of the lateral entry program and its role in the government’s broader strategy to improve administrative efficiency.
The move has sparked discussions regarding the potential impact on governance, as the lateral entry initiative was seen as a critical step in modernising India’s bureaucracy by integrating professionals with specialised skills into the system.