UPSC Cancels Lateral Entry Recruitment Notification For 45 Posts

The UPSC has cancelled its notification for lateral recruitment to 45 senior-level posts, following a request from the requisitioning authority, as per a notice published on August 17, 2024.

UPSC cancels lateral entry for 45 posts of Joint Secretary and others.

Source : Shadab Alam

UPSC Lateral Entry Notification 2024: The Union Public Service Commission has cancelled the notification regarding recruitment through lateral entry. The recruitment drive was aimed to fill 45 posts for the levels of Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Director.

"It is for information of all concerned that the Advertisement No.54/2024 pertaining to Lateral recruitment for 45 posts of the level of Joint Secretary/Director/Deputy Secretary in different Departments published in the Employment News, various Newspapers and on the website of the Commission on 17th August,. 2024 is cancelled as requested by the requisitioning authority," UPSC said in a notice.

Earlier today, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of Personnel and Training, wrote a letter to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), urging it to cancel the advertisement for lateral entry recruitment issued on August 17, 2024.

"Lateral entry was endorsed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in 2005, and the Sixth Pay Commission in 2013 also supported this direction. However, the process has seen several high-profile cases where lateral entrants were appointed without following reservation norms," Dr Jitendra Singh said in a letter to the UPSC Chairman.

Dr. Singh criticised past governments for filling key positions, like Secretaries and UIDAI leaders, through lateral entry without reservation, calling it ad-hoc and non-transparent.

He emphasised Prime Minister Modi's commitment to ensuring lateral entry aligns with constitutional principles of equity and social justice. Dr. Singh highlighted the absence of reservation in the recent UPSC advertisement for lateral entry and urged its cancellation to uphold social justice and empower marginalised communities.

Notably, Applications were invited for 10 Joint Secretaries and 35 Director/Deputy Secretary posts—roles typically held by officers from the IAS, IPS, IFoS, and Group A services. The lateral entry initiative, which includes specialists from the private sector, aims to infuse new talent and perspectives into government departments.

NITI Aayog, in its 2017 Action Agenda, recommended hiring personnel at middle and senior management levels in the central government through lateral entry. These entrants, distinct from career bureaucrats, would join the central secretariat on three-year contracts, potentially extendable to five years.