More than a year after the central government directed the withdrawal of an advertisement for 45 senior bureaucratic posts, the ambitious lateral entry scheme for recruiting external experts into government service remains in a state of uncertainty. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is still engaged in consultations with various ministries regarding the future of the policy.
The Abrupt Withdrawal and Political Backlash
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had advertised for these 45 lateral entry positions on August 17, 2024. However, in a swift reversal, Union Minister of State for Personnel, Jitendra Singh, wrote to the UPSC chairperson on August 20, 2024, requesting the advertisement's cancellation. This move came after the government faced significant criticism, including from BJP's ally LJP (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan, regarding the absence of reservation provisions in the recruitment process.
In his communication, the MoS stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was firmly of the view that the lateral entry process must align with the constitutional principles of equity and social justice, particularly concerning reservation. The advertisement was cancelled on the same day.
Current Status: Consultations and Unanswered Questions
At a press conference on Tuesday, when questioned about the scheme's status and the possibility of its revival in 2026, Minister Jitendra Singh deferred the query to DoPT Secretary Rachna Shah, suggesting she would "fill in the gaps."
Secretary Shah provided some details, noting that approximately 60 officers had been recruited in three batches—in 2019, 2021, and 2023—since the scheme's inception in 2018. She mentioned that around 38 to 40 of these officers are currently serving in various ministries. "In terms of what kinds of specialisations are required and the scheme, in terms of what the impact has been, we are in consultation with the stakeholder ministries and departments," Shah explained, highlighting the ongoing review process.
A Scheme in Review Amidst Governance Reforms
The lateral entry scheme was introduced to bring in private sector specialists and domain experts for positions at the Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary levels. A total of 63 individuals had been appointed through this route before the recent stall.
Earlier, in June 2025, Minister Singh had clarified that the scheme was not suspended but acknowledged its pause. He had praised its "noble intention" and credited Prime Minister Modi for its initiation. The press conference on Tuesday also served to showcase DoPT's achievements in 2025, which the Minister described as a year "dedicated to governance reforms for ease-of-living." One notable change was the department's shift from the historic North Block to the newly constructed Kartavya Bhawan.
As consultations continue behind the scenes, the future of lateral entry into India's bureaucracy hangs in the balance, caught between the objectives of specialized governance and the imperative of inclusive recruitment policies.
