Context:

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit through lateral entry for multiple roles in certain Central Ministries.

More on the news

• The UPSC published advertisement is for 45 posts across 24 ministries, including 10 joint secretary and 35 director/deputy secretary posts through lateral entry, either on a contract basis or through deputation. 
• For applicants from the private sector, appointments would be made on a contract basis, while applicants from the public sector would be posted on deputation.
• The decision was criticized by opposition parties, who argued that it violated the reservation rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

What is Lateral Entry?

• Lateral entry refers to the process of appointing individuals from outside the government directly to mid-level and senior positions. 
• These "lateral entrants" are appointed on contracts for 3 years, which can be extended to a maximum of 5 years. The aim is to bring in domain-specific expertise and fresh perspectives to enhance governance.

History and Implementation

• The concept of lateral entry was first introduced in the 2004-09 period and was strongly endorsed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) established in 2005. 
• NITI Aayog, in its 3-year Action Agenda and the Sectoral Group of Secretaries (SGoS) on Governance, also recommended the induction of personnel at middle and senior management levels in the central government.

Eligibility and Selection

• Individuals with domain expertise and a proven track record in relevant fields from the private sector, state governments, autonomous bodies, or public sector undertakings are eligible to apply for these positions. 
• The selection criteria typically emphasize professional accomplishment and subject matter expertise.

Reservation in Lateral Entry

• Lateral entries have been excluded from the reservation system due to the "13-point roster" policy. 
• This policy establishes a method for determining a candidate's placement on a list of job openings by calculating their group's quota percentage (SC, ST, OBC, and EWS) as a fraction of one hundred. 
• Since each lateral entry position is considered a "Single Post," the reservation system does not apply, allowing these appointments to be made without following reservation guidelines.

Various expert groups/committees regarding lateral entry

• 1st Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) highlighted the need for specialisation as the functions of the government had become diversified. 
• The Surinder Nath Committee in 2003 and the Hota Committee in 2004 also recommended domain expertise in civil services. 
• In 2005, the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) recommended lateral entry at both the Central and state levels. 
• Other countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Belgium have regularised lateral entry into administrative posts.