The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has invited applications for 45 mid-level posts of director, joint secretary and deputy secretary in various ministries and departments, in the biggest such exercise since lateral entry began in 2019, as the government seeks more specialists. As of now, 63 appointments have been made through lateral entry at these levels during the past five years, and currently, 57 such officers are posted.
Applications have been submitted for 10 joint secretary posts, which include two each in finance and Meity (electronics and IT) ministries, and one each in environment, steel, shipping, science and technology, renewable energy and home ministry. The Centre justifies this lateral entry scheme emphasising the need to hire people with specialisation.
Two joint secretaries in the finance ministry will be hired for FinTech, cyber security and investment sectors. The applications for the posts will have to be submitted by September 17th and shall be on a contract basis for three years, extendable to five years depending upon performance. The vacancies for joint secretaries in the shipping and environment ministries have been advertised as the term of two such officers hired earlier through lateral entry is ending.
The applications have given out invitations for 35 director and deputy secretary posts. These appointments will be for climate change and soil conservation, credit, natural farming, organic farming and water management in the agriculture ministry; commodity pricing in the consumer affairs department, insolvency and bankruptcy in the corporate affairs ministry, two in the education ministry to deal with education laws and technology to name a few.
The applicants for the post of Joint Secretary need a minimum of 15 years of experience and must be in the age of 40-55 years and shall accrue a gross salary will be approximately Rs 2.7 lakh per month. Similarly, director and deputy secretary candidates need a minimum of 10 and seven years of experience respectively. They must be in the age group of 35-45 years for directors and 32-40 years for deputy secretaries.
