Centre's U-Turn On Lateral Entry amid reservations row

Union Minister Jitendra Singh today wrote to the head of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), asking the civil service body to cancel its advertisement for lateral entry into into 45 government positions amid backlash from the opposition as well as NDA allies. 

In his letter, Singh said there was a need for lateral entry to align with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in the Constitution, particularly concerning the provision of reservations.

The Congress, which had strongly criticised the ad as an "attack on Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis", was swift to react. "A letter from a Union Minister working under a non-biological PM to a Constitutional authority WITHOUT a date. What pathetic governance this is," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted.

Last week, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) sought applications for recruitment of 45 joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries through lateral entry. It was aimed at appointing specialists, including those from the private sector, in central government departments.

The UPSC's announcement created a political stir, with at least two NDA partners -- the Janata Dal (United) and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) -- joining the opposition ranks to oppose the move.

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi was the first to pounce on the BJP government, criticising it for the lack of reservations in appointments made through lateral entry.