Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Criticizes UPSC Lateral Entry Policy, Privatization of IAS posts
In a recent statement, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, launched a strong critique of the Narendra Modi government’s policy on lateral entry into senior bureaucratic positions. According to Gandhi, this policy is a significant threat to the reservation system for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), calling it an “anti-national step” that undermines their rights to government jobs. Recently UPSC has released a notification to recruit candidates to top posts in various ministries and other government organizations. In this notification UPSC has allowed lateral entry which means candidates from private sector can apply for these posts whereas earlier only IAS officers were promoted to these posts. Click here to Download notification PDF.
What is the Lateral Entry Policy?
The lateral entry policy allows the recruitment of professionals from outside the traditional civil services into high-ranking government positions. Candidates from private sector can now apply for these posts whereas earlier only IAS officers were promoted to these posts. This includes roles such as Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries in various Central Ministries. The latest move by the government to fill 45 such posts through this policy marks the largest tranche of lateral recruitment undertaken so far.
Gandhi’s Concerns
Rahul Gandhi expressed his concerns through a post on the social media platform X, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attacking the Constitution by favoring candidates from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over those selected through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Gandhi argued that this move represents a push towards privatizing the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), which he claims is a strategy to eliminate reservation policies.
He emphasized that the reservation system is being eroded by these lateral entry appointments. Gandhi pointed out that important government posts that should be filled by IAS, IPS, and other Group A service officers are now being given to individuals from outside these services, which he believes further distances underprivileged groups from top positions in the government.
Impact on Social Justice
Gandhi criticized the lateral entry policy as a “robbery” of the rights of talented youth who prepare rigorously for the UPSC exams. He described it as an attack on social justice and the principle of reservation for underprivileged communities.
He also drew a comparison with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), where a person from the private sector was appointed as chairperson. Gandhi mentioned this appointment as an example of the potential conflict of interest that could arise when corporate interests infiltrate key government roles.
Opposition’s Stance
The Congress leader asserted that the INDIA (Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance) bloc would strongly oppose the lateral entry policy. He argued that this policy damages both the administrative framework and the concept of social justice.
Gandhi’s remarks highlight a growing debate over the future of reservation policies and the role of lateral entry in Indian bureaucracy. As the government continues to implement this policy, the opposition’s response and public reactions are likely to play a significant role in shaping the discourse around these changes.
