Government Orders UPSC to Cancel 2024 Lateral Entry Advertisement
New Delhi, July 9, In a big blow to the recruitment of bureaucrats in India, the Central Government has asked Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairman to revoke its recently advertised advertisement for lateral entry positions. This has triggered an in depth conversation and debate from a range of sectors with implications for governance as well as administrative efficiency.
History of the Lateral Entry Scheme
A lateral entry scheme was also introduced by the Central Government to bring in professionals from various sectors and industries to revitalize Indian administrative services. The idea was to recruit professional managers on contract for the purpose of injecting fresh blood into a ramshackle administration with much needed expertise in disciplines such as finance, engineering and management. The scheme was considered to be a new departure from the conventional form of Indian bureaucracy that followed traditional administrative practices by amalgamating them with modern professional values and catapulting India into the 21st century.
The UPSC had advertised for lateral entry to fill 10 similar high-level posts covering ministries/departments. This was intended to be used for the recruitment of professionals with very long experience in their fields — who would also possess specialised knowledge relevant to advising/participating-in establishing policy initiatives within the Indian administrative system. But the abrupt order to take down this ad raises questions about what will happen with the broader effort.
Why It Was Canceled
All of the exact reasons for cancellation are technically speculative but there were a few factors that almost certainly played into the decision. A factor of that has been criticism from some quarters like bureaucrats as well or opposition parties. There were apprehensions of the possible rupturing of established bureaucratic processes and bringing in outsiders through lateral entries into a long-established civil system. Opponents argued that the only result of such a practice would be to destroy meritocracy and seniority-based promotion system with IAS and other civil services.
Also, doubts were being raised whether this plan would affect the administrative apparatus adversely after a certain point of time in future. Reacting to these apprehensions and feedback from all stakeholders, the Central Government could have perhaps thought it over again.
Reactions from Stakeholders
Stakeholders have reacted to the add in a variety of ways and some unhappy with its cancellation. This has disappointed supporters of the lateral entry scheme–reform advocates, industry experts and others. They contend that bringing in ivory-towered outsiders to solve a government’s most convoluted puzzles and spur novel thinking inside the bureaucracy is essential. They also think the scheme was a move towards responsive and responsible public administration.
At the same time, traditionalists in the bureaucratic establishment and political circles have hailed a ‘bold’ move. Their argument is that although it may be imperfect, the current system works at preserving a necessary level of administrative stability and continuity. For these stakeholders, the withdrawal of a finding represents an attempt to protect the sanctity of conventional civil services examination and promotion processes.
Implications for the Future
The discontinuation of the lateral entry advertisement has numerous pertinences on the prospective course that administrative reforms in India may follow. That opens the way for a possible reconsideration of how the government is setting out to modernize and diversify its bureaucracy. It can trigger a rethink on how to continue with incorporating outside expertise while preserving the fundamental values and architecture of Indian administration system.
This might also reduce the confidence of potential lateral entrants in thinking to apply for these positions. This, in turn may affect the perception of focus and resolve at Vikas Bhavan to reforming or modernising the administrative structure.
Conclusion
The advice to withdraw the UPSC’s lateral entry ad merely underlines how bureaucratic reform needs a red pen while simplifying is India tough. While the future of lateral entry scheme is uncertain in immediate term, it highlights larger questions on how to make administration modern efficient and inclusive. KreativanSays As dialogue continues, the world will be watching to see how government manages these challenges shaping the future of public administration in this country.