Devil Is In The Design

Context: Lateral entry into administration is a reform that needs to be better implemented.

Challenges in Lateral Entry

• Seniority based entry requirement: a “permanent” system of administration would dissuade the best from joining because the private sector offers a higher profile at the age when IAS and permanent system are promoted to joint secretary level.
  • IAS officers become joint secretary after 17 years of service (i.e. age of 45 years) and secretaries after 30 to 33 years of service (i.e. age of 55 years or above)
• Lack of clear mandate: assigning unimportant or less critical portfolio to lateral entrants would increase the chances of not making a mark.
• Lack of training or orientation: for understanding system and working with the permanent establishment.

Way Forward

• Relax entry requirements: so that persons of 35 years of age are eligible and thereby attract the best talent from outside at the joint secretary level.
  • For example, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Bimal Jalan and Vijay Kelkar as joint secretaries in their mid-30s and secretaries by their late 40s or by 50 reasons they left lucrative assignments abroad.
• A clear mandate for the lateral entrants: Hire lateral entrants for authority on decision making at all levels in ministries and not for expertise profile.
• Impart learning to work with the permanent establishment: the lateral entrants who served in the system for a length of time and at different levels have made the biggest impact.
  • For example, a recent lateral entrant like Parameswaran Iyer succeeded because he had served in the IAS early on.