Parliamentary Panel To Review Contentious UPSC Lateral Entry Policy

A parliamentary panel will scrutinise the contentious issue of lateral entry into key government posts, which sparked political controversy earlier this year over lack of reservation for these positions.

According to details put out by the Lok Sabha secretariat, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice for examination in 2024-25 will look into the lateral entry in civil services, and other subjects, news agency PTI reported.

In August, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had invited applications for 45 positions, including 10 Joint Secretaries and 35 Directors and Deputy Secretaries, to be recruited through lateral mode on contract basis.

The UPSC’s advertisement drew sharp criticism from opposition parties and even NDA allies, such as the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Janata Dal (United).

Several leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, BSP chief Mayawati, and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, slammed the government's policy for not having reservations for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates.

Subsequently, the government directed the UPSC to withdraw the advertisement.

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