Amid the political conflict between Congress and BJP for lateral recruitment, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has called off its advertisement for lateral entry recruitment following the Center’s demand.  

Notably, on August 17, UPSC issued an advertisement seeking “talented and motivated Indian nationals” for recruitment of 45 joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries through lateral entry in the government departments and various senior positions within the Union government. 

Congress Criticism and Reactions

Meanwhile, this move has ignited criticism and sparked debate on lateral entry into bureaucracy among the BJP and Congress.  

It has triggered a debate, following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticizing the process, arguing that it is against the reservation system and is a direct attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. 

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Lateral entry is an attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. BJP’s distorted version of Ram Rajya seeks to destroy the Constitution and snatch reservations from Bahujans.”  

Mallikaarjun Kharge, the Congress President described the lateral entry as a preplanned agenda to compromse on the rights of marginalized communities from the government jobs.  

The other leaders and party representatives, including Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, condemned the move, noting that the process deprives the opportunities for the underprivileged candidates.  

BJP’s Defensive approach

In response, the BJP pointed out that the concept of lateral entry was initially adopted during a Congress-led government, specifically under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the mid 200s.  

They defended the lateral entry, claiming it brought fresh talent and specialized expertise to address governmental conflicts and other challenges. However, the debate is continuing to evolve between both parties.  

The UPA was a coalition of center-left political parties in India, led by the Indian National Congress. It was formed after the 2004 general elections, when no single party secured a majority in the elections. The UPA governed the country from 2004 to 2010 under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.  

What is Lateral Entry?  

Additionally, the lateral entry into bureaucracy refers to a process of recruiting individuals from outside the traditional government service cadres, such as the Indian Administrative Services, to fill the mid- and senior-level positions available in the governmental sectors. This aims to bring expertise to the system and address the complexity in the governance.  

The candidates under the process are typically recruited under contracts ranging from three to five years, with potential expertise.