Lateral Entry into Civil Services

Lateral Entry in Civil Services : A New Era in Governance

What is Lateral Entry into top bureaucracy?

Lateral entry in the civil services of India could be described as a procedure which enables individuals who are already practitioners from the private companies, universities, and public sector undertaking to join the civil services at a higher rank. This channel circumvents UPSC, the intent of which is to accrue fresh talent, technically skilled and specialized knowledge in public service delivery. By so doing, the government aims at improving the quality of policy formulation and implementation of projects.

Lateral entry as discussed earlier is one of the major strategies used by governments to manage demand for employment and reward hence has the following important aspects:

1. The Main Goal

As it is with lateral entry, the intent is to bring people with proven expertise in economics, public health, infrastructure and technology among others. These are areas one may find that normal civil servants may not have adequate training or practical experience in.

2. Positions Offered

Lateral entry recruits are also posted as Joint Secretary, Director or Deputy Secretary in several government ministries.

3. Selection Process

Unlike the UPSC exam in which candidates are required to write ample exams, lateral entry applicants are recruited based on professional qualifications and experience. In some cases, the UPSC or some particular selection committee conducts an interview as one of the steps.

4. Contractual Employment

Most of the lateral entrants are hired on a contractual employment basis, which are renewable for a period of 3 to 5 years maximum. This contract can be renewed If the employee delivers satisfactory performance in his or her line of work.

Eligibility Criteria

Lateral entry, as applied above, refers to a situation whereby another firm enters into a particular market to offer a similar product as the pre-existing firm.

In 2018, DoPT for several Joint Secretary in different cadre through lateral entry recruitment advertisement.

The criteria include:

Educational qualification: Graduate degree.
Experience: 15 years of experience in a relevant domain.
Age limit: Between 40 and 55 years (can vary from department to department).
Selection process: Shortlisting based on experience followed by interviews conducted by the UPSC.

Advantages of Lateral Entry

1. Expertise and Specialization:

Lateral entrants bring in domain-specific knowledge, especially in technical fields like economics, health, infrastructure, and technology.
Civil servants often lack in-depth expertise in these areas, as their generalist training does not always cover such technical knowledge.
- Example: Experienced professionals from sectors like healthcare or economics can contribute to more informed policymaking and implementation.

2. Efficiency and Innovation:

Lateral entrants, often coming from private sectors or academia, bring with them innovative practices and solutions that could enhance efficiency in governance.
They may contribute to speeding up project execution and streamlining bureaucratic procedures that are traditionally slow and rigid.

3. Bridging the Gap in Talent:

The traditional UPSC recruitment system focuses on generalists, which may not always fulfill the government’s needs in highly specialized fields.
Lateral entry can fill critical skill gaps, ensuring that complex projects requiring specialized knowledge are handled by those with appropriate expertise.

4. Fresh Perspectives:

Lateral entrants are outsiders to the system, allowing them to bring fresh perspectives and avoid the “groupthink” that often limits traditional civil services.
They may challenge existing norms and push for reforms in governance that insiders may be reluctant to introduce.

Challenges with Lateral Entry

1. Adjusting to Bureaucracy:

To read the context or the internal politics, culture and practices of the Indian civil services may be challenging to lateral entrants due to the hierarchical structure and the emphasis on procedures.
They may encounter resistance from other career bureaucrats considering the fact that some have been used to working in a certain manner.

2. Undermining Meritocracy:

Critics concerned that lateral entry bypasses UPSC which is touted as one of the most competitive and fair system of recruitment in India.
That is why there are issues of, for instance, nepotism, favouritism or political influence when people close to the political leaders get these positions.

3. Short-Term Tenure:

Initially the Lateral entrants are on contracts with limited contract tenure. This may leave them unable to create a lasting impression towards the society or actually be demanded to answer for a given work’s results in the long run.

4. Risk of Privatising Public Services:

Others believe that coming into government with the feeling of professionalism of the private sectors will eventually change the agendas from public interest to business like self interest.
This is a challenge that can be noted whenever one is dealing with the tensions between public service values on the one hand, and marketization imperatives on the other.

5. Limited Impact on Systemic Problems:

The scheme of lateral entry will fetch new expertise, but it will not be able to address more core issues concerning civil services, which include bureaucracy, lack of responsibility, and hierarchical structures.
Real change will also entail modification across other areas and this section looks at how these can be achieved.

Lateral Entry Across Globe

Some of the examples of Lateral entry that is practiced across the world include the following:

1. United States of America - Special Appointments in the Government

In the U.S., lateral entry is a regular feature, especially for senior roles. Experts from academia, think tanks, or the private sector are often brought in to serve as advisors or heads of agencies.
- For instance, Janet Yellen, a renowned economist and former Federal Reserve Chair, was appointed as the U.S. Treasury Secretary. Such appointments bring high-level expertise into policymaking.
Additionally, the Senior Executive Service (SES) in the U.S. allows for both career civil servants and lateral entrants to fill high-ranking positions within the federal government.

2. United Kingdom - Government Departments

The U.K. government frequently brings professionals from various sectors into key government departments. For example, Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England, had prior experience leading the Bank of Canada and working at Goldman Sachs. This kind of lateral entry brings global financial expertise into the central banking system.
The U.K. also runs the Fast Stream program, which recruits professionals with specialized knowledge for senior positions within the civil service.

3. Singapore - Administrative Service:

Singapore regularly recruits professionals from the private sector and academia into senior government roles. The country’s focus on meritocracy allows for lateral entrants to work alongside career civil servants.
For instance, Peter Ong, who was previously with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, had stints in both the public and private sectors before becoming the head of the Singapore Civil Service.

Lateral Entrants in India in the past

1. Rajesh Kotecha (Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH):

A practitioner of Ayurveda, Rajesh Kotecha was appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of AYUSH through lateral entry in 2017.

2. Sanjeev Sanyal (Principal Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance)

A noted economist and author, Sanjeev Sanyal was appointed through lateral entry in the Ministry of Finance.

FAQs

What is lateral entry into civil services in India?

Lateral entry refers to the appointment of private sector professionals, academic experts, and individuals from other fields into high-ranking administrative roles in the Indian government.
This is done to bring in fresh talent, specialized skills, and expertise into the civil services, especially for positions traditionally filled through promotions of career bureaucrats.

Why was the lateral entry scheme introduced in India?

The lateral entry scheme was introduced to address the need for domain expertise in key policy areas where the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers may not have specialized knowledge.
It aims to infuse new perspectives, improve decision-making, and bring professional skills from sectors like economics, education, public health, finance, and technology into the governance framework.

Which posts are typically filled through lateral entry?

Lateral entry candidates are generally appointed to posts equivalent to the rank of Joint Secretary, Director, or Deputy Secretary in various ministries and departments. These posts require individuals with specialized skills to manage complex policies and programs.

Who is eligible to apply for lateral entry into civil services?

Eligibility criteria vary depending on the position, but generally, candidates must:

Be professionals with at least 15 years of experience in the relevant field.
Hold a position of seniority in the private sector, academia, public sector, or international organizations.
Be within a specified age limit, often between 40-55 years.

How are candidates selected through lateral entry?

The selection process for lateral entry typically involves:

Submission of an application through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) or other recruitment agencies.
Shortlisting of eligible candidates based on qualifications and experience.
Interview and assessment of candidates by an expert panel to evaluate their suitability for the role.

Mains Practice Questions

Sl. No	Questions
1.	Discuss the rationale behind the introduction of lateral entry into civil services in India. How does it aim to address the challenges faced by the current bureaucratic system?
2.	Examine the benefits and potential pitfalls of lateral entry in Indian civil services. In what ways can this system contribute to better governance?
3.	Critically analyze the impact of lateral entry on the traditional career progression of regular civil servants. Do you think it will affect the morale of career bureaucrats? Justify your answer.
4.	"Lateral entry is a necessary reform for the Indian bureaucracy, but its implementation must be done with caution." Discuss this statement in light of recent developments in lateral recruitment.
5.	Evaluate the role of the private sector and academia in improving public administration through lateral entry. How can the government ensure that these entrants adapt to the unique challenges of public service?
6.	Compare and contrast the lateral entry system in India with that of other countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. What lessons can India learn from these countries to improve its system?

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