New Delhi: Lateral entry in government jobs has gained attention as the Government of India shared fresh data in Indian Parliament.
According to an official report, a total of 63 appointments have been made at senior levels through lateral entry since 2018. These appointments were made to bring specialized expertise from outside the traditional civil services into key ministries and departments.
What is Lateral Entry in Government Jobs
Lateral entry means hiring professionals from the private sector, academia, or public sector directly into senior government roles like:
- Joint Secretary
- Director
- Deputy Secretary
These roles are usually filled by UPSC-selected civil servants, but lateral entry allows domain experts to contribute to policymaking.
Lateral Entry in Government Jobs: Total Appointments Since 2018
The government confirmed that:
- 63 total lateral entry appointments have been made
- Positions are on contract or deputation basis
- Roles are filled based on specific expertise and domain knowledge
These appointments aim to improve efficiency and bring fresh ideas into governance.
Year-wise Breakdown of Lateral Entry Posts
2019: 8 Appointments
Key ministries included:
- Civil Aviation
- Economic Affairs
- Environment & Climate Change
- Financial Services
- Renewable Energy
- Road Transport
- Ports & Shipping
- Commerce
All posts were at the Joint Secretary level.
2021: 30 Appointments (Highest)
This year saw the maximum lateral hires, across roles like:
- Joint Secretary
- Director
- Deputy Secretary
Major departments included:
- Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
- Health & Family Welfare
- Skill Development
- Jal Shakti
- Commerce
- Legal Affairs
- Financial Services
2023: 25 Appointments
Key ministries:
- Power
- Housing & Urban Affairs
- Rural Development
- Statistics & Programme Implementation
- Health & Family Welfare
Roles included Directors and Deputy Secretaries, along with some Joint Secretary posts.
What is the Importance of Lateral Entry in Government Jobs
The government clarified that:
- Appointments are made for specific assignments
- Experts are chosen for their specialized knowledge
- Each post is treated as a single-cadre position
This helps in solving complex policy challenges with real-world expertise.
No Category-wise Data: Here’s Why
The government also stated that:
- Category-wise (SC/ST/OBC) data is not maintained
- This follows a Supreme Court judgment in the case of
PGIMER Chandigarh vs Faculty Association
Since each position is unique and not part of a regular cadre, reservation data is not tracked.
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