.Why in news?
The DoPT has issued a notification inviting lateral entry at joint secretary-level posts.
What is the notification on?
- The government has invited “outstanding individuals” to join the government at the joint secretary level at the Centre.
- The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has invited applications for 10 senior level positions.
- It covers the Departments of Economic Affairs, Revenue, Commerce and Highways among others.
- The intake will be made in 10 departments initially.
- It will expand to other categories in the second phase.
What are the specifications?
- The eligibility criteria includes individuals working at comparable levels in -
- Private Sector Companies
- Consultancy Organisations
- International/Multinational Organisations
- They are required to have a minimum of 15 years' experience.
- Besides, it includes those working in -
- central public sector undertakings
- autonomous bodies
- statutory organisations
- research bodies
- universities
- The recruitment will be on contract basis for 3 to 5 years.
- The notification specifies a minimum age of 40 years.
- The minimum qualification is graduation from a recognised university or institute.
- Any higher qualification will be an added advantage.
What is the significance?
- Joint secretaries are at a crucial level of senior management in the Government.
- They lead policymaking and implementation of various programmes and schemes of the department.
- They report to the secretary/additional secretary in the ministry or department.
- The idea of lateral entry of private individuals into the administrative framework is not new.
- However, the recent notification is the first move towards its implementation.
What are the benefits?
- A generalist was suited to the times when the state was the nerve centre of the economy.
- But in the course of time, the state started yielding to the market.
- A senior bureaucrat, thus, is expected to regulate the private sector as well.
- Moreover, the increasing complexities of policy-making have started to demand a level of specialisation in the fields.
- The move is thus aimed at bringing in expertise from the private sector individuals.
- It is a measure to infuse talent into the country’s bureaucracy.
What is the current practice?
- Joint secretary level positions are normally filled by career bureaucrats.
- These are those who join the service after passing UPSC exam.
- UPSC prepares merit list and allot the different cadres like IAS, IPS, etc.
- The success of the announced lateral entry will greatly depend on transparency.
- Addressing potential conflicts of interest, and ensuring proper terms of engagement are crucial.
Source: The Hindu, Indian Express
