30 central posts up for grabs via lateral entry

NEW DELHI: Making a fresh move towards lateral induction of domain experts and technocrats into the bureaucracy, the UPSC has sought applications from "motivated Indian nationals" for 30 different posts of joint secretary and director across various ministries and departments.

While there are three openings at the joint secretary level, with recruitment on contract basis, in the ministry of commerce and industry; department of revenue, ministry of finance; and ministry of agriculture and farmers' welfare, 27 director-level posts (on contract basis) are up for grabs across finance ministry; ministry of commerce and industry; ministry of law and justice; agriculture and farmers' welfare; ministry of education; ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution; ministry of health and family welfare; ministry of road transport and highways; ministry of jal shakti; ministry of civil aviation; and ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship.

Joint secretaries are usually IAS officers recruited on the basis of Civil Services Examination held by UPSC, even though there are several examples of technocrats being given lateral entry - former Planning commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia being one.


Candidates can apply from February 6 to March 22. Shortlisting for interview will be done on the basis information provided by them in their online application.

In 2019, the government had recruited around eight professionals on lateral entry basis as joint secretaries in various ministries.