Why in the News?
- UPSC withdrew recruitment for 45 lateral entry posts due to the lack of SC/ST/OBC reservations.
Key Highlights
- Lateral Entry allows private sector experts to be appointed to senior bureaucratic positions without going through UPSC exams.
- It was introduced to address the IAS shortage and bring domain expertise into governance.
Issues with Lateral Entry
- Bypasses Reservation Policies – Since lateral entry positions are single posts, they do not have SC/ST/OBC quotas.
- Potential Conflict of Interest – Private-sector entrants may favor corporate interests in policy making.
- Short Tenures – Appointments last only 3-5 years, leading to policy discontinuity.
Way Forward
- Develop a structured mid-career recruitment policy.
- Ensure transparency in selection processes.
- Provide accountability frameworks to prevent conflict of interest.
