Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has recently released a notification for the recruitment of 45 posts including Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary through lateral entry. The main objective of this notification released by the Union Public Service Commission is to bring experts from outside the traditional government service cadres, including private sector professionals, into the Indian bureaucracy to fill the post of these senior officials in various government departments.
Lateral Entry in Bureaucracy
- Lateral entry into the Indian bureaucracy is a system designed to recruit individuals from outside the traditional civil service cadre to fill middle and senior level government positions. Under this system, candidates are generally appointed on contractual terms ranging from three to five years, with the possibility of extension based on their performance and contribution.
- The rationale behind lateral entry into bureaucracy is to address complex governance and policy-related challenges by inducting specialized expertise that is not readily available within the traditional bureaucratic structure. The approach aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of governance by leveraging the knowledge and skills of the expert.
Historical Context
- The concept of lateral entry is not entirely new. It was first recommended by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) set up in 2005 under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government headed by Veerappa Moily. The ARC recommendations highlighted the need to integrate professionals from various sectors such as private industry, academia and public sector undertakings (PSUs) to improve policy implementation and administrative efficiency. The move was aimed at bringing specialized experts into roles where traditional civil services may lack specialists.
New Developments
- 2014-2015: The Government of India began exploring lateral entry as a means of bringing experts into senior administrative positions.
- 2018: The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued a notification inviting applications for lateral entry into key government roles, including secretaries and joint secretaries in various ministries.
- 2020: Further steps were taken to formalise the process with specific guidelines and criteria for recruitment.
Need for Lateral Entry
- Skill gaps in traditional civil services: Traditional civil services may lack specialised skills required for modern governance challenges such as digital transformation and advanced data analytics.
- Dynamic policy challenges: Rapid changes in technology and global trends require experts that may not be present in the traditional civil service structure.
- Global best practices: Several countries have successfully implemented lateral entry to bring in high-level experts and improve administrative functions.
Benefits of Lateral Entry
- Promoting expertise and innovation: Niti Aayog has advocated lateral entry as a means of bringing in specialised expertise and new perspectives. By recruiting professionals from various sectors, including the private sector and academia, the government can infuse the bureaucracy with innovative ideas and approaches. This is in line with the Commission’s broader goal of promoting a more dynamic and efficient governance structure.
- Addressing skill gaps: The Commission has highlighted that lateral entry helps address specific skill gaps in administration. For example, positions requiring advanced knowledge in technology, finance or management can benefit from inducting specialists who bring a high level of expertise that is not always present in traditional civil services.
- Improving governance: According to the Commission, lateral entry can enhance the effectiveness of policy implementation. By recruiting individuals with relevant skills and experience, the government aims to improve the quality of decision-making and administrative processes, leading to more effective and efficient governance.
- Promoting comprehensive administrative reforms: Niti Aayog supports lateral entry as part of comprehensive administrative reforms aimed at modernising the bureaucracy. The Commission sees this approach as a way to get rid of outdated practices and bring about necessary changes in the functioning of the government, making it more responsive and able to deal with contemporary challenges.
- Lateral entry requirement: The 2nd ARC recommended the introduction of lateral entry to bring specialised skills and expertise into the civil services. It emphasised that professionals from different fields can make significant contributions to governance and administrative efficiency.
- Recruitment from diverse sectors: According to the Arvind Panagariya committee of 2016, lateral entry will promote recruitment from various sectors, including private industry and academia, to inculcate new approaches and practices in the government.