LATERAL ENTRY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 –Governance)

Context: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued an advertisement inviting applications from talented and motivated Indian nationals for Lateral Recruitment to the positions of Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary in 24 Union government ministries.

Lateral Entry

• About: In 2017, NITI Aayog proposed the induction of professionals into central government roles at middle and senior management levels.
• Role of Lateral Entrants: These professionals, known as ‘lateral entrants,’ would join the central secretariat, traditionally composed of career bureaucrats from the All India Services or Central Civil Services.
• Contract Duration: Lateral entrants are offered contracts of three years, with the possibility of extension for up to five years.
• First Vacancies: The first lateral entry vacancies were advertised in 2018, specifically for the Joint Secretary level.
• Expansion of Positions: Later, positions for Director and Deputy Secretary levels were also opened for lateral entry.
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Joint Secretary: Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), a Joint Secretary holds the third-highest rank in a Department and serves as the administrative head of a department wing.
• Director and Deputy Secretary: Directors rank just below Joint Secretaries, and Deputy Secretaries rank below Directors. However, in many ministries, both perform similar roles.
• Criticism: Lateral entries have been criticised on the grounds that there are no quotas for SC, ST and OBC candidates in such recruitment.

Lack of Quotas in Lateral Recruitment

• Reiterated Reservation Policy: The DoPT's 2018 circular emphasized reservations for SC/ST/OBC candidates in temporary Central Government posts lasting over 45 days.
• Historical Policy Background: This directive builds on a 1968 circular by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which originally mandated reservations in government appointments.
• Applicability to Bureaucracy: The policy ensures that reservations are applicable to all appointments within the central bureaucracy, including temporary positions.