9 professionals selected as joint secys in biggest lateral induction into govt service

Mains Paper 2 : Civil Service |

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level : Various appointments

Mains level : Lateral entry scheme

News

• The government has selected nine professionals, largely from the private sector, as joint secretaries in various departments, signalling a major shift in the entry of professionals in shaping policies.
• This is perhaps the first time that a large of group of experts with domain knowledge will enter the government through the lateral-entry process.

Appointment as Joint Secys

• So far, the joint secretary-level officers are largely drawn from the pool of people who clear the civil services examination conducted by the UPSC.
• To ensure the same standards, the entire process of the selection of these experts was conducted by the UPSC.
• They will join their respective departments on a “contract basis”.

Not for the first time

• Earlier, some experts had joined the government through the lateral-entry route in ministries such as finance, power and sanitation.
• The list of professionals included those like Manmohan Singh, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Bimal Jalan, Vijay Kelkar (former petroleum and finance secretary), R V Shahi (former power secretary), apart from Parameswaran Iyer, who is currently sanitation secretary, and Rajesh Kotecha, who heads the Ayush ministry.

Assist this newscard with:

Burning Issues- Lateral Entry into Civil Services