What is lateral entry into bureaucracy that sparked dispute between UPA and Centre

For the last few days, the Centre and Opposition have attacked each other over government's push for lateral entry into bureaucracy which is a practice that involves recruiting individuals from outside the traditional government service cadres to fill mid and senior-level positions.

While the lateral entry into bureaucracy was formally introduced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure, with the first set of vacancies announced in 2018. Candidates are typically hired on contracts ranging from three to five years, with potential extensions based on performance. The aim is to address complex governance and policy implementation challenges by tapping into external expertise.

Despite the move that has been criticised by Rahul Gandhi and others in Opposition, the concept of lateral entry has historical precedence. It was initially recommended by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) established in 2005 during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by Congress. The ARC, chaired by Veerappa Moily, advocated for lateral entry to fill roles requiring specialised knowledge unavailable within traditional civil services. These recommendations emphasised recruiting professionals from the private sector, academia and PSUs to improve policy implementation and governance.


What started the political slugfest?
Previously on Saturday, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) issued an advertisement seeking applications for lateral recruitment to 45 senior positions, including joint secretary, director and deputy secretary in 24 ministries of the Union government.

These posts are key decision-makers and administrative heads within departments. Candidates with appropriate qualifications and experience from state/UT governments, PSUs, statutory organisations, research institutes, universities and the private sector are eligible to apply.

Reservation in public jobs and universities is implemented via the 13-point roster policy. However, a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) circular notes that there are no mandatory reservations for appointments on deputation, and the current process of filling posts through lateral entry is considered a close approximation of deputation.

"In a single post cadre, reservation does not apply. Since each post to be filled under this scheme [lateral entry] is a Single Post, reservation is not applicable," files obtained from the DoPT state.

Why is Oppn against lateral entry?
Opposition leaders argue this lacks reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), while the government defends it as a means to bring in specialised talent and expertise.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised lateral entry, accusing the Modi government of using it as a backdoor to recruit officers loyal to the BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). "Lateral entry is an attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. BJP's distorted version of Ram Rajya seeks to destroy the Constitution and snatch reservations from Bahujans," Gandhi said on social media platform X.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described lateral entry as part of a 'well-planned conspiracy' to exclude marginalised communities from government jobs.

Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati have also condemned the move, arguing that it deprives underprivileged candidates of opportunities for advancement within the government.

"A question to the honorable judges and the central government who are forcibly looking for creamy layer in OBC/SC/ST: Where does the so-called creamy layer of these classes go when they are in these posts?" Chandrashekhar Aazad of the Azad Samaj Party questioned.

What is BJP's response?
BJP has countered these criticisms by pointing out that the concept of lateral entry was developed during the Congress-led UPA government. In response to Rahul Gandhi's comment, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tweeted, "INC hypocrisy is evident on lateral entry matter. It was the UPA government which developed the concept of lateral entry. The second Admin Reforms Commission (ARC) was established in 2005 under UPA government. Shri Veerappa Moily chaired it."

In total, 63 appointments have been made through lateral entry in the last five years, as per minister of state for the DoPT Jitendra Singh. Presently, 57 lateral entrants occupy positions in various ministries/departments.

(with ToI inputs)