Chirag Paswan First NDA Ally To Slam UPSC Lateral Entry, Demands Reservation: ‘No Ifs & Buts’

The Congress has also criticised the move, alleging discrimination against marginalised communities. However, Ashwini Vaishnaw defended the initiative, citing the potential for improved governance.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President and Hajipur MP Chirag Paswan on Monday criticised the lateral entry process in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), calling it "completely wrong," and stressed that he would raise this issue with the Union government. Paswan is the first NDA ally to openly oppose the lateral entry into 45 posts within the bureaucracy. He emphasised that his party, LJP (RV), is "absolutely not in favour" of such appointments, stressing that reservation provisions must be followed in all government appointments.

"Reservation provisions must be there in any government appointment. There is no ifs and buts in this. No reservation exists in the private sector and if it is not implemented in government positions as well... The information came up before me on Sunday and it is a matter of concern for me," he said, news agency PTI reported.

The Union minister stated that as a part of the government, he has the platform to highlight the issue and he would. He also said that as far as his party is concerned, it is not in support of such a process.

Opposition parties lashed out at the move, claiming it would snatch reservations from SCs, STs, and OBCs. According to Indian Express, Congress continued its criticism of the lateral entry process, with Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, calling it an "attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis." He accused the BJP of trying to undermine the Constitution and take away reservations from marginalised communities.

Along with the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) also claimed that it was a "conspiracy" by the BJP to fill its ideological allies to high posts through the back door, according to PTI. 

UPSC Reform Will Improve Governance: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Over the opposition's remark, the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said in a post on his X, " INC hypocrisy is evident on lateral entry matter. It was the UPA government which developed the concept of lateral entry. The second Admin Reforms Commission (ARC) was established in 2005 under UPA government. Shri Veerappa Moily chaired it. UPA period ARC recommended recruitment of experts to fill the gaps in roles that require specialised knowledge."

"NDA government has created a transparent method to implement this recommendation. Recruitment will be done through UPSC in a transparent and fair manner. This reform will improve governance," he further wrote.

On August 17, the UPSC issued an advertisement inviting applications from "talented and motivated Indian nationals for Lateral Recruitment" to fill positions such as joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary in 24 Union Government ministries.

The advertisement on the official website of UPSC mentioned that the vacancies in various ministries/departments with headquarters in New Delhi, are to be filled on a contract basis (on deputation for officers of states/UT cadres, public sector undertakings (PSUs), autonomous bodies, statutory organisation, universities, recognized research institutes) for a period of three years (extendable to five years depending upon performance) by September 17.