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The political landscape in India is heating up as a debate erupts over the Modi government's lateral entry recruitment system in the bureaucracy. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has taken aim at the system, alleging that it undermines the reservation system for SC, ST, and OBC communities. Gandhi claims the system allows for the recruitment of individuals based on their affiliation with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) instead of the established Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) process. This assertion, made on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has triggered a fierce response from the BJP.
In response, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has accused the Congress of hypocrisy. Vaishnaw pointed out that the concept of lateral entry was actually introduced during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. The second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), established in 2005 under the UPA government and chaired by Veerappa Moily, played a key role in developing this concept. Vaishnaw maintains that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has implemented a transparent method for lateral entry recruitment, ensuring that the process is fair and conducted through the UPSC.
Amit Malviya, a senior BJP leader, has echoed this stance, arguing that while the Congress previously utilized lateral entry without any defined process, the current system operates based on established guidelines. Malviya emphasizes that these guidelines guarantee no impact on the quota and reservation system. He further cites official memorandums from 2016, 2019, and 2020, which explicitly mandate adherence to reservation policies for SC, ST, OBC, and persons with disabilities. A 2020 Union Home Ministry memorandum also stresses strict compliance with these reservation guidelines for lateral entries. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued a notification inviting applications from qualified candidates for lateral recruitment to Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary positions across 24 Union government ministries. This notification indicates the government's intention to fill 45 domain expert roles, including 10 positions at the Joint Secretary level. These positions are spread across various ministries such as Finance, Electronics, Agriculture, Environment, and Renewable Energy.
The debate over lateral entry highlights the complexities of bureaucratic reform in India. While the BJP advocates for bringing in talent and expertise through lateral entry, the Congress argues that it undermines the merit-based system established by the UPSC. The debate is likely to continue as both parties attempt to garner public support for their respective positions. This issue holds significant ramifications for the Indian administrative structure and its impact on governance, potentially shaping the political landscape in the years to come.