The government has introduced the new lateral entry policy to hire civil servants without the need for UPSC. If you are a professional with 10-15 years of experience and looking to get your hands on being an IAS officer, then this might be the perfect read for you.
What is Lateral Entry?
Lateral Entry, as the term suggests, relates to a few appointments of specialists, primarily those from the private sectors in various government-run organisations. So, lateral entry meaning in UPSC is as it suggests above.
The government is currently searching for individuals who are known to be excellent and have various expertise on revenues, economic affairs, cooperation and farmers’ welfare, financial services, shipping, road transport and highway, civil aviation and more on the same list.
Recently, the central government has declared the opening of 10 senior-level positions in various departments through lateral entry, yet the question remains, what basically is the eligibility of the lateral entry?
Before understanding that, you should know that the centre also has invited applications from individuals working in the private sector, PSUs and state governments for three consecutive posts of joint secretaries and 27 posts of directors as well for the UPSC lateral entry eligibility.
Also Read: Lateral Entry in UPSC: What is Lateral Entry in IAS? Lateral Entry in IAS Notification
What are the Advantages of Lateral Entry? Here’s a List to Know it All
Civil Services in our nation is, without hesitation, a severely significant role in the administration, implementation and policy formulation. Besides, it also has always taken candidates from all across towards success and gradual development for the upsc lateral entry eligibility.
Advantage 1
Currently, governance has been becoming more participatory and multi-actor endeavour for a long time now, which is to say, this is the reason why lateral entry provides stakeholders like the private sector and non-profits a significant chance to participate in governance procedures. This has been a very important advantage seen in lateral entry presently.
Advantage 2
It is seen that governance is growing into a more complex state requiring specialized skills. For that reason, a generalist officer cannot always be held responsible to remain up-to-date and with the current trends about a specific domain of knowledge for the upsc lateral entry eligibility.
Due to this, individuals with a particular skill set and knowledge about a certain domain are considered to be always required in administrative challenges.
Advantage 3
One of the biggest advantages is its ability to bridge the gap of the current shortage of almost 1500 IAS officers, as stated by the Department of Personnel and Training data.
Advantage 4
Not that just, but Lateral entry is expected in welcoming a fruitful change in organization culture in the Government sector culture. It has high chances in bringing about a change in the values of efficiency, economy and much more.
Advantage 5
Changes in liberalisation policies have brought about critical changes in the regulatory capacity of the government. In such cases, administrative knowledge is highly required from the entrants from public sectors.
Advantage 6
Since there is a shortage of officers, especially in the middle levels, the requirement of lateral entry keeps on becoming important in the current industry.
Also Read: Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
What are the Issues Faced? Check them Here
Lateral Entry is expected to bring various individuals with in-depth experience of the private sector to government-run organisations. This is supposed to pervade the system with different candidates with dedicated perspectives and a fresh outlook.
It is expected to cover up the small deficits and also avoid the widespread initial recruitment procedures of segments concerning IAS officers, and many more.
However, what most of us do not know about is that there still are issues of the same. Read along to find out what:
Issue 1
Transferring off from private-sector jobs to taking up positions here can be a potential conflict of interest. A guideline and code of conduct for the entrants should be mandatory for the people from the private sector to ensure the public good is not affected.
Issue 2
Private sectors are more profit based than Government sectors. Thus a stringent ethical code must be set for the people of the private sector so that the latter’s goals are not harmed. Also, the transition from profit based to public service can be a little detrimental from a financial standpoint.
Issue 3
Lateral entrants are more likely to face disinclination from the already working Civil Servants, thus creating a state of the cold war.
Issue 4
Positions are available only at top tiers, thus having little to no influence on field level.
Issue 5
The ethics and values of government sectors are very different from private sectors. Thus, there should be a body to make sure that people from the private sectors have the skillset and mentality to adjust to a totally different work environment in government sectors.
Along the Future
Indian Civil Service is the backbone of the administration and forms the paving stones for the progress and development of your country.
But, the old body needs a reformation and if lateral entry is introduced, there should be some stringent codes and rules to prevent nepotism, favouritism and add to further corruption. Lateral entry into civil services can pose a threat if not reformed properly.
To improve our system’s efficiency immediate reformations in the internal workings of the system. Some definite structures should be defined to allow lateral entry of private sector professionals.
Eligibility Criteria
The basic qualifications required for a Joint Secretary lateral entrant must have 15 years of work experience and 10 years in case of Directors. The maximum age limit for Joint Secretary. UPSC joint secretary lateral entry is a position announced recently, awaiting actions nonetheless.
However, any central government employee is considered not to be eligible for posts alike.
Also Read: Can I Prepare for UPSC While Working? How to Prepare for UPSC While Working?
Salary for Lateral Entrants
For Joint Secretary positions, the minimum pay is level-14 which approximately grosses to around ₹ 2,18,200 and for Director level it is level-13 grossing to almost ₹ 1,44,200.
Conclusion
I hope all your doubts have now been resolved about being lateral entrants, and if there’s still some unheard queries yet to be answered, then you can book a free demo class here.
Although, an intensive training program is held concurrently for afresh entrants from the private sectors. It is in fact established to formulate an understanding of the various complex scenarios of work in the Government.
All things considered, the lateral entry should be restricted to posts where domain specialists are basically available in the services itself. Yet, as the positive side says, it has the strength to bring the private sector group with the central, which rather befits the meaning of afresh employees.
