UPSC Cancels Lateral Entry Recruitment After PMO Intervention

In a significant move, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has canceled its recent advertisement for lateral entry recruitment into government services. This decision came following a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after some criticism against the recruitment process.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh communicated to UPSC Chairperson Preeti Sudan that the proposed recruitment, which aimed to hire specialists into positions like joint secretaries and directors, needed to be reviewed. The main concern was the absence of reservation provisions for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Singh emphasized that the Prime Minister views reservation in public service as essential for ensuring social justice. He mentioned that the government intends to look into how the principles of reservation can be applied to these special recruitment posts, after consulting everyone involved.

Recently, the UPSC had announced plans to fill 45 positions, but this created a stir, particularly from opposition parties and some allies within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Janata Dal and Lok Janshakti Party expressed strong dissatisfaction over the lack of quota systems in the recruitment.

Upon the cancellation of the recruitment advertisement, Chirag Paswan, a union minister, expressed gratitude towards the Prime Minister, stating that this action reaffirms the NDA’s commitment to social justice.

The Congress party had previously accused the government of attempting to undermine reservations through this lateral entry initiative. They hailed the cancellation as a win for their campaign which was spearheaded by leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

In his letter, Singh discussed past practices where the Ad Hoc process had led to lateral entries in significant positions without reservation considerations, referring to instances during the Congress-led UPA government.

Singh also pointed out that while previous governments did permit lateral entries, the current NDA administration is committed to making this process more transparent and equitable, ensuring that deserving candidates from marginalized communities have a fair chance.

Despite his letter focusing on this reform, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh criticized the PMO’s communication regarding the cancellation, pointing out the lack of a date on the letter.

Vaishnaw, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, added that the decision reflects the Prime Minister’s dedication to social justice and the constitution, reinforcing the importance of inclusive hiring practices.