PM orders cancellation of UPSC lateral entry ad, emphasises need for reservation

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to cancel an advertisement issued by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the appointment of joint-secretary-level officers and other key positions through the lateral entry process. 

The decision, conveyed in a letter from union minister Jitendra Singh to UPSC chairperson Preeti Sudan, marks a significant shift in the way senior officials are appointed to crucial ministries such as finance and electronics.

Lateral recruitment for joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries in the union government was introduced in 2018. According to a Lok Sabha reply dated 24 July, 63 appointments have been made this way so far, including 35 from the private sector. Currently, 57 of these appointees are still serving in their respective ministries or departments.

In his letter, Singh noted that lateral entry was endorsed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in 2005 and recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission in 2013. He said the practice began during the term of the Congress-led UPA government, and that key appointments, including Nandan Nilekani's as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), were made this way.

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Singh wrote, “For the prime minister, reservation in public employment is a cornerstone of our social justice framework, designed to address historical injustices and foster inclusion.”

He added, "It is crucial to uphold the constitutional mandate for social justice to ensure that deserving candidates from marginalised communities receive appropriate representation in government services."

Addressing the Opposition's charges, he clarified that since these positions were specialised and designated as single-cadre posts, no reservation provision applied to them. "This aspect needs to be reviewed and reformed in the context of the prime minister's focus on ensuring social justice,” he said.

UPSC's recruitment notice

In a recruitment notice on 17 August, the UPSC advertised joint secretary positions across sectors including emerging technologies, semiconductors and electronics, environmental policy and law, digital economy, fintech, cybersecurity, economic affairs, shipping, science and technology, and industry. These positions were in ministries such as steel, renewable energy, policy and planning, and the National Disaster Management Authority.

The posts of directors and deputy secretaries are currently vacant in various departments, including those focused on climate change, forestry, integrated nutrients management, natural farming, rain-fed farming systems and organic farming.

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The government invited applications from "talented and motivated Indian nationals eager to contribute to nation-building," as well as from state/UT officers and employees of public sector undertakings. For those from the private sector, the appointment was to be on contract, while other candidates were to be posted on deputation. The initial appointment period was three years, extendable up to five years based on performance. Directly recruited central government employees were not eligible for these positions.

Applicants for the position of joint secretary must have at least 15 years of experience in the relevant field and be between 40 and 55 years old. Candidates for the director and deputy secretary posts should be aged 35-45 and 32-40, respectively.