New Delhi: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led administration has now opened doors for the inclusion of experts with domain experience at the Joint Secretary and other senior-level levels in government agencies amid the significant bureaucratic overhaul this week.
At least 45 applications for lateral entry were received for joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary positions in 24 central ministries.
Notably, since 2018, this is the largest planned lateral hire of bureaucrats, marking a significant shift in the government structure.
By taking this action, the government hopes to align the bureaucracy with “market forces” in addition to introducing experience and domain-specific knowledge to the system.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the ‘vacancy’ for 45 domain experts with the rank and compensation of Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, and Directors in an advertisement released on Saturday.
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Of the 45 specialists, ten will be appointed as Joint Secretaries, and the remaining experts will be “absorbed” into the ministries of finance, electronics, agriculture, environment, and renewable energy as directors or deputy secretaries.
Notably, around five years ago, lateral entry introduced professionals from outside the traditional civil services to the governance field.
According to certain estimates, eight to nine experts who entered government service between 2019 and 2021 and had specialised knowledge in their respective fields still serve in senior positions.
63 lateral entry appointments have been made in the past five years, 35 of which were from the private sector.
The most recent round of lateral hiring is considered the “biggest” attempt to “reform” the bureaucracy by bringing in outside expertise.
Meanwhile, political squabbling has resulted from the push to hire 45 senior officers through lateral mode.
The opposition has charged that the administration is weakening the reservation system and undermining the nation’s “steel frame.”
According to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the BJP is intentionally trying to sideline lower castes, such as SCs, STs, and OBCs.
The BJP feels that it is motivated by a specific political objective, while the opposition views it as an insult to social justice principles.
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–IANS
