NEW DELHI: The Central Government, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to cancel the recent advertisement for lateral entry posts in the Central Government.
A few days ago, UPSC announced the lateral recruitment of highly qualified professionals offering ₹2.7 lakhs monthly salary for Joint Secretary level posts, ₹2.3 lakhs for Director level posts and ₹1.52 lakh for Deputy Secretary level posts.
In a letter addressed to UPSC Chairperson Preeti Sudan, Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State for the Department of Personnel and Training, conveyed the Prime Minister’s strong stance on the matter. “The Hon’ble Prime Minister is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in our Constitution, particularly concerning the provisions of reservation,” the letter stated.
Singh highlighted the historical context of lateral entry in Indian bureaucracy, noting that it was first endorsed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in 2005, chaired by Shri Veerappa Moily. The Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations in 2013 also supported this approach. However, Singh emphasized that “both before and after that there have been many high-profile cases of lateral entry” under previous governments, which were made “in an ad-hoc manner, including cases of alleged favouritism.”
The letter pointed out that, unlike earlier governments, the current administration has made efforts to ensure that the lateral entry process is “institutionally driven, transparent, and open.” Despite these efforts, the Prime Minister’s Office has expressed concerns that the existing process does not sufficiently address issues related to social justice and the representation of marginalized communities.
“Since these positions have been treated as specialized and designated as single-cadre posts, there has been no provision for reservation in these appointments. This aspect needs to be reviewed and reformed in the context of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s focus on ensuring social justice,” Singh urged in the letter.
The Minister stressed that reservation in public employment is “a cornerstone of our social justice framework, aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity.” The Prime Minister’s directive to cancel the advertisement, Singh noted, “would be a significant advance in the pursuit of social justice and empowerment.”
The letter concluded by calling on the UPSC to take immediate action to withdraw the recent advertisement, emphasizing that this step is crucial for upholding the constitutional mandate towards social justice.