The Minister of DoPT has informed the Chairman of the UPSC, following Prime Minister Modi's instructions, that the advertisement for lateral entry has been canceled

New Delhi [India], August 20 : On Tuesday, Jitendra Singh, the Minister of the Department of Personnel and Training, sent a letter to the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) requesting the cancellation of the advertisement for lateral entry positions across various levels in the central government, following instructions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his letter, Singh addressed the issue of lateral entry into the Government of India. He noted that the UPSC had recently published an advertisement for several lateral entry positions in the Central Government. Singh highlighted that the concept of lateral entry was supported by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, established in 2005 and chaired by Veerappa Moily, as well as by the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in 2013. He pointed out, however, that there have been numerous high-profile instances of lateral entrants both before and after these recommendations.

Singh criticized previous governments for appointing lateral entrants to significant positions, such as Secretary roles and UIDAI leadership, without adhering to reservation processes. He also mentioned the National Advisory Council's role in overseeing the Prime Minister's Office in a manner perceived as overly bureaucratic.

The letter emphasized that while earlier lateral entries were often handled ad-hoc and could involve favoritism, the current government aims to make the process more institutional, transparent, and open.

Singh stressed that Prime Minister Modi believes lateral entry must align with constitutional principles of equity and social justice, particularly regarding reservations. He stated that reservations in public employment are essential for addressing historical injustices and fostering inclusivity.

The letter urged the UPSC to cancel the advertisement issued on August 17, 2024, asserting that this action would advance social justice and empowerment.

Previously, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had criticized the central government's lateral entry policy, accusing it of attacking Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. On social media, Gandhi argued that the policy undermines the Constitution and the reservation rights of marginalized communities.

Opposition leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav, MK Stalin, and Sitaram Yechury also opposed the government's lateral entry initiative. Even within the NDA, Chirag Paswan voiced objections to the notification.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw defended the policy on Monday, stating that these positions do not affect the reservation system for regular civil service openings and are temporary, lasting only three years. He dismissed opposition criticisms as "false and baseless," asserting that similar practices were used in previous administrations but without the systemic approach now being implemented through the UPSC.

The recent UPSC notification aimed to recruit Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries through lateral entry, which sparked controversy among opposition parties concerned about potential impacts on reservation rights for OBCs, SCs, and STs.