A parliamentary committee will examine the issue of lateral entry for filling key posts in government departments. The lack of reservation for these posts had led to a political controversy earlier this year.

According to details provided by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the issues selected for examination by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in 2024-25 also include 'lateral entry' in civil services.

UPSC gave advertisement

In August this year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had advertised for 45 posts to be filled through 'lateral entry' on contract basis. Of these, 10 were the posts of Joint Secretary and 35 were the posts of Director and Deputy Secretary.

Opposition parties as well as allies of the government like LJP and JDU had protested against this advertisement. Many leaders including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, BSP chief Mayawati and SP President Akhilesh Yadav had criticized the government's policy for not making provision for reservation for candidates from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

The process was started in 2018

After this, the government had asked UPSC to cancel the advertisement. Recruitment for these posts is usually done through the civil service examination process, but direct recruitment is done for a limited period through 'lateral entry'. The process of lateral entry has been started in the central government from the year 2018, which aims to appoint experts for specific tasks. Currently, no quota is applicable on these appointments. So far 63 appointments have been made through 'lateral entry', out of which 35 appointments have been made from the private sector. At present 57 officers are holding posts in various ministries / departments.