Context:
UPSC advertisement issued to recruit 45 candidates through lateral entry; criticized by opposition for bypassing reservation policies.
Lateral Entry:
- Appointment of specialists (including private sector) in government departments on a 3-year contract, extendable up to 5 years based on performance.
- Endorsement: 1st endorsed by the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission in 2005.
- Recommendation: NITI Aayog recommended lateral entry in 2017.
- Initial Vacancies: 1st advertised in 2018 for Joint Secretary level positions.
- Joint Secretary: 3rd highest rank in a Department, administrative head of a wing.
- Additional Posts: Director and Deputy Secretary positions opened later.
- Rank Hierarchy: Directors are one rank below Joint Secretaries; Deputy Secretaries are one rank below Directors.
- Eligibility: Directly recruited Central government employees not eligible.
- Experience Requirement: Joint Secretary applicants need a minimum of 15 years in the relevant domain.
- Age Limits:
- Joint Secretary: 40-55 years.
- Director: 35-45 years.
- Deputy Secretary: 32-40 years.
- No Reservation: Reservation or caste-based quotas do not apply.
- Appointments: 63 appointments made through lateral entry; 35 from the private sector.
- Reform: Latest batch seen as a major move to reform bureaucracy by tapping external talent.
Source: IE
Previous Year Question
In India, which one of the following compiles information on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments and lay-offs in factories employing workers?
[UPSC CSE – 2022 Prelims]
(a) Central Statistics Office
(b) Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(c) Labour Bureau
(d) National Technical Information System Manpower
Answer: (c)
